He knew it was over but his legs would not carry him away.
It was a hard watch.
Just 60 seconds to go before half-time but Ireland were defending on their twenty-two. Paul O’Connell hurled himself into yet another ruck.
Two French forwards piled in next and O’Connell – his leg caught in an awkward position – roared in pain. His hamstring tore off the bone.
Play raged on until Ireland finally forced a French error. Nigel Owens blew for half-time. The bell had already tolled for the Irish captain.
O’Connell surely knew his Ireland career was over. He could not leave a World Cup winner but he wanted to leave on his own terms.
With assistance from the Irish medics, he attempted to limp from the field under as much of his own strength as possible. Another sign of the man that became a legend long, long ago.
The injury was too severe. Twice he tried. He stumbled first time, then he collapsed to the ground.
It was a rare failure in a glorious, trophy-laden, respect-earned career.
Paulie tried everything to walk from the field… very hard to watch/photograph … @offtheball #LEGEND pic.twitter.com/dfEZDZrw5e
— James Crombie (@INPHOjames) October 12, 2015
The Irish fans had already seen Johnny Sexton, in tears, hobble off the pitch.
It was clear that O’Connell’s race [114 Test caps, 108 for Ireland] was run. The reception he got, from the 72,163 in attendance, reverberated long after he disappeared down the tunnel.
Worse news confirmed as Paul O’Connell is ruled out of #RWC2015 – One of Ireland’s greatest ever players pic.twitter.com/DIrfkzCBZ2
— Patrick McCarry (@patmccarry) October 13, 2015
This morning, soon after the news of O’Connell’s Irish retirement, I received this message from a fellow sports reporter, from Australia:
“Absolutely gutted for you blokes mate. O’Connell is one the champions of the game and someone you want to see have every opportunity to play at the highest level.”
Those sentiments have been replicated the rugby world over as fans and players alike say goodbye to a true great.
However, before we get too morbid about events, remember that O’Connell is a fighter.
A torn hamstring is bad but he has come back from worse.
On New Years’ Eve, 2012, he underwent back surgery and feared he would never play again. He was back on the pitch three months later and made his third British & Irish Lions tour.
He was in the form of his life on that tour, Down Under, until he broke his arm in the final 15 minutes of the First Test win over Australia.
Remarkably, astoundingly, he played on as the Lions won. The Aussies could not believe it.
To this day, they still can’t believe it – scrums, breakdowns, tackles with a broken arm.
He was still on the pitch, at the death, as he bore/stared a hole into Kurtley Beale during his slipping, missed penalty.
O’Connell does not have to come back from this.
Toulon – his new employers – would be bitterly disappointed but they would understand that O’Connell does not wish to inflict any more damage on his ageing body [he turns 36 next Tuesday]. Toulon are littered with proud, hard rugby men.
Do not be surprised, however, to see him lining out for Toulon in the New Year.
It would be a surprise to see Paulie still out there in 2017 – slinging and flinging – on the Lions tour to New Zealand. A surprise but not a shock.
For now, though, we simply say thanks.
The Irish rugby team do not need any more motivation to win the World Cup but they just got it.
