I think it might not have gotten *enough* water on a regular basis, to re-hydrate it. The soil around any plant will suck water from whatever has water, to hydrate itself, and BRs will not do well, unless they get excess water to compensate for that ‘sponge action’ by surrounding soil and plants.
I always plant BR (bare root) plants in a small pot, to get them ‘started’, keep in the shade, and then transplant to the garden after they show good signs of life. Try it again, and be sure to get it in the Spring, as that’s optimum time to plant BR material.
Thx.