Wood: We may get our revenge

Ireland skipper Keith Wood remained focused on the job in hand despite losing to world champions Australia 17-16 in Melbourne.

The game was in the balance right up until the final whistle and Wood admitted although they were unhappy not to have forced victory, they were still in the quarter-finals where they face France.

“We are obviously disappointed but not too disappointed because we are in the quarter-final in a week’s time – and we may get chance to reap revenge because we could meet [Australia] again,” he said.

“We were very close to having it. We are not happy because we came here to win.

“It is the first time we have played in conditions anywhere near vaguely normal.”