What a half of rugby that was.
The intensity and excitement with which both teams have played has been electric. Most importantly, we’re 9-6 up.
The half was marred when Ireland’s only point-scorer at the time, Johnny Sexton, had to be replaced at 6-6 after a big hit from Picamoles.
Here’s how the half-unfolded, according to Twitter:
All set for the next five hours
#COYBIGx2 #RWC2015 #IREvFRA #IREvPOL pic.twitter.com/rVs24VyVYw
— Joe Donnelly (@kildarejoe) October 11, 2015
My Ireland-France prediction: they'll promise shipments of men & guns to aid us in our struggle but then fail to turn up at a crucial moment
— John Gallagher (@earlymodernjohn) October 11, 2015
Paul O' Connell looks so possessed I wouldn't be surprised to see his head rotating 360 degrees shortly. #IRLvFRA
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) October 11, 2015
Currently, tweets using #IREvFRA are 12% positive, 84% neutral, and 4% negative.
— sentiBotr (@sentiBotr) October 11, 2015
Forget a game of two halves, it was a half of two halves for Johnny Sexton. The Ireland fly-half started brilliantly before being absolutely floored by a big tackle. Here’s his half in two tweets:
https://twitter.com/Garathon66/status/653240246784684032
Sexton vomiting on the pitch now.
— Rúaidhrí O'Connor (@RuaidhriOC) October 11, 2015
But did Sexton’s removal hold us back? Did it, f*ck. Ian Madigan came straight onto the pitch and kicked between the posts at the first opportunity to make it 9-6 to Ireland.
Key player has been lost 😥 #IREvFRA
— JordanAgnew (@Jk_Agnew) October 11, 2015
Madigan, you slick haired beauty!! #IRE #IREvFRA
— calf (@CalanthaForde) October 11, 2015
Madigan. My greatest creation.
— Ross O'Carroll-Kelly (@RossOCK) October 11, 2015
We wasted some opportunities too, like when Tommy Bowe and Keith Earls went two-on-one not too far from the French try-line.
https://twitter.com/RichardLooby/status/653244192328650753
My granny could have caught that ball and gone on to score a try. #IREvFRA
— Jim Park (@jimpark99) October 11, 2015
Though 9-6 up, Ireland appeared to suffer another tremendous blow seconds before half-time, possibly losing O’Connell to injury.
And there goes O' Connell. Fucking disaster. #IRLvFRA
— Colm Tobin (@colmtobin) October 11, 2015
Time to fetch our inhalers and catch our breaths.
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