After a test match for the ages in Paris, social media has performed exactly as expected.
With contention about refereeing decisions, coaching staff intervention in on-field decisions and the meaning of a Cranberries song from 1994 were all hot topics of conversation in the aftermath.
Of course like any big game there was decisions that both sets of fans felt didn't go their way. Former South African coach Nick Mallett was perturbed by a few referee decisions by Ben O'Keeffe.
Most of the South African ire towards O'Keeffe related to the final passage of play, and the Kiwi's decision to blow the game up.
However one Boks fans has gone viral on tik tok for questioning the validity of Mack Hansen's crucial first half score.
@louis_viljoen777 RSA VS IRLAND #southafrica #irland #rugby #worldcup2022 #fyp ♬ Ireland - Irish Pub Society
The video has gone viral - it's been viewed over 250k times on tik tok and was widely shared on Twitter on Monday before being pulled for rights restrictions.
Hansen definitely got much closer to the backline than was comfortable for any Irish fan but it was a clear try.
Jay Long on Twitter had the perfect reply to the suggestion that Hansen hadn't touched down.
The comments on tik tok are full of Springboks fans making the same point.
Although the thinking behind making the conversion easier for his captain, Johnny Sexton, was an approach many ex-professionals have sympathised with. Ireland legend, Brian O'Driscoll made comment on it describing it as very similar to his first ever try for Ireland.
Reaction from players and fans
With another very entertaining post match interview, Hansen himself was able to make light of it in the aftermath of the game.
I was just trying to make the kick easier for Johnny, he's getting a bit old now and can't get the same distance that he used to so I thought if I could sneak it round a little bit more, I could make his life a little easier. I knew what I was doing, obviously.
🗣️"It seemed like there was 800,000"
Mack Hansen on the Irish support in Paris! 🇮🇪#RWC2023 | #RSAvIRE pic.twitter.com/y9gwcxC5Um— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) September 23, 2023
Much like a lot of twitter discourse this has been met with plenty of Irish, and rugby fans more widely, with a great sense of humour.
Despite the fact it was close to being a disaster from Hansen, he was able to get the ball down with plenty of photos proving the Connacht winger was able to ground the ball in the field of play.
Ireland try! It's Mack Hansen who is lurking in space on the wing ☘️
Half-time score is South Africa 3-7 Ireland.
Ireland get their reward for opting to kick for the corner twice instead of taking the three points.#RSAvIRE #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/c5WC2imApP— The Good, The Bad & The Rugby (@GoodBadRugby) September 23, 2023
The try was absolutely crucial to Ireland's 13-8 win and for their World Cup campaign more widely. They now set their sights on Scotland on the 7th of October in Paris, with the prospect of a quarter final berth if they can get the job down against a strong Scotland outfit.
SEE MORE: South Africa Legends Baffled By Tactics Against Ireland
