What did we just witness? What did we just live through?
Ireland 27, Australia 24. The history books will note the result. It will take you and I, long after the grey has set in and the knees are always stiff, to tell people what we saw here.
On television or at the ground, everyone who watched that game watched a collection of men who have too much fight for their own damn good. Up against the world number three, the World Cup finalists and a team two short of a northern hemisphere Grand Slam.
Johnny Sexton and Robbie Henshaw, our 10-12 axis, were out. Sean O’Brien’s hip saw him withdrawn at the 11th hour. Jared Payne was in a holy heap. CJ Stander, Simon Zebo and Rob Kearney could take no serious contact all week. The 15 that started had never, ever trained together in that set-up.
And then the game started.
10 minutes in and Kearney was gone. 20 minutes later and Andrew Trimble was limping off. Payne made it to half-time but made it no further. Even 80-minute man Jamie Heaslip only lasted an hour.
We started the second half with a backline that comprised of Garry Ringrose at 12, Kieran Marmion 14 and Joey Carbery 15. It was too much to take it and far too much to believe. It was outrageous.
Ireland went 17-0 up before the toll of two All Blacks Tests began to soak them. Australia parried back just before half-time and when Tevita Kurindrani got over in the corner for a converted try, the home crowd were deathly quiet.
Up in the stands, you could hear Heaslip and Ireland captain Rory Best barking at their fellow men. They have been to the well so much that the grass is long worn and gone. The likes of Carbery, Ringrose, Marmion and van der Flier drew their inspiration from them but provided plenty of their own.
Paddy Jackson was goal-kicking with nerveless impunity but Sefanaia Naivalu’s lightning quick score and Bernard Foley’s conversion saw Ireland fall behind for the first time, 21-20.
They needed a moment and Simon Zebo provided it soon after Foley made it 24-20. Wallabies No.8 Michael Hooper took on a pass from Simon Zebo and sought to truck it up. Zebo wasn’t having it.
Up he shot. He was throwing in all his chips. Zebo vs. Hooper but he made a huge tackle that got the crowd off their seats and roaring.
The Aussies were forced to kick for touch. Ireland made that possession, won from the lineout, count but they needed some men to make some gargantuan carries.
Peter O’Mahony put his hand up, took on the ball and charged headlong into the green and gold walls. Each one gained ground and drew in bodies.
One more was needed and Stander provided it. With no consideration for his own health, Stander flung himself towards the posts and drew in more bodies. Space made, Ireland went wide and Keith Earls finished them off. Jackson pinged a touchline conversation and belief seeped back.
All that remained was another mountain. 13 minutes left, three points the difference and Australia expending every last piece of themselves for one more chance.
It never came. Ireland would not have it.
New names. New heroes standing tall with old warriors.
2017 is going to be some fun.
Dick Clerkin makes his GAA Hour debut to talk about a wonderful career and argue passionately with Colm Parkinson over Sky Sports GAA. Subscribe here on iTunes.
