Wood bows out after sad defeat

WHAT an anti-climax.

Keith Wood’s long and illustrious rugby career and Ireland’s World Cup dreams were ended by French brilliance in the Telstra Dome yesterday, as France set up a semi-final showdown with England in Sydney next weekend.

Ireland’s fans, who have added such colour to this tournament, made their way from the stadium shaking their heads in bewilderment. They knew the French were powerful, but they had not expected to see their heroes humiliated.