Paul O'Connell has surely played his last game for Ireland.
After 108 tests, which included a Grand Slam and two further Six Nations championships, it looks to have all ended on the Millennium Stadium turf just prior to half-time.
Chris Henry alluded to O'Connell's impact on the Irish dressing room beforehand. His speech to the players left the players in tears.
Paul spoke incredibly well in the changing room. He basically had everyone in tears before the match, so it's a brilliant day in it and to top the group is an incredible feeling.
At one stage, O'Connell dispensed with the buzzwords that one normally hears when sampling rugby punditry. And his speech ranged across more fundamental matters.
We talked about being clinical and taking our chances, all these buzz words but today, definitively, we knew it was going to take more from us and go deeper. The words Paulie provided definitely got the best out of everyone.
In the post-match euphoria, the sadness of O'Connell's fall stuck with the Irish players.
I know every player is just desperate to get Paulie back because, if that’s his last outing in a green jersey, it will be very, very sad.
