Richie McCaw will lead the defending champions out for the World Cup final on Hallowe'en night, but not before he received a bit of a fright.
The All Blacks captain was his typically imperious self in New Zealand's nervy 20-18 win over South Africa on Saturday, but one first-half incident in particular - missed by virtually all viewers - came to dominate the aftermath.
The debate over whether or not McCaw would be cited for a perceived elbow on Francois Louw generated headlines around the world and confirmed that #RWC2015 is the first Rugby World Cup to be truly influenced by social media.
It all began not long after the match finished when Irish rugby writer Andy McGeady shared a vine.
https://twitter.com/andymcgeady/status/657960131397832704
That vine was shared by a voluble rugby pundit with lots of followers and lots of opinions.
https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/658002761552953344
https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/658016350795931649
It wasn't long before the messenger was taking flak, so said pundit offered his definitive opinion to quieten the masses.
https://twitter.com/brianmoore666/status/658032606496337921
On Sunday, the day of the Australia-Argentina semi-final, the possible McCaw-Louw incident was still generating conversation.
https://twitter.com/btsportrugby/status/658273176376373248
Despite no word from World Rugby on the possibility of a citing, McCaw's coach Steve Hansen found himself discussing the matter at his press conference on Sunday.
https://twitter.com/EmmaKeelingNZ/status/658249284752687104
https://twitter.com/LIVENewsDesk/status/658332542941007872
Meanwhile Twitter users were having fun as the world waited for word from the citing officer.
https://twitter.com/neilfissler/status/658002328503656448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/dobbsyk/status/658015521862844416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/iamjonnyking/status/658131191632019456
Despite the original footage appearing to be far from conclusive, there emerged the rugby "Zapruder Film" that would exonerate McCaw.
https://twitter.com/MAILrugbyunion/status/658238939136815105
As others, such as the TV3 panel, backed the World Cup-winning captain.
https://twitter.com/patgeraghty54/status/658298701463601152
About 25 hours after the storm first started brewing, the citing report was made public, exonerating McCaw and confirming his eligibility to face Australia.
https://twitter.com/JohnCushing_/status/658356766246334465
Even if some media outlets continued to use suggestive pictures on their stories.
https://twitter.com/eatsleeprugby/status/658577119673479168
https://twitter.com/9NewsBrisbane/status/658461640669687810
On social media there was anger with the newspapers for reporting on a story that had its origins on social media.
https://twitter.com/guywilliamsguy/status/658399424947744768
But some were not going to let McCaw's innocence get in the way of a good joke.
https://twitter.com/tomwald76/status/658345825232269312
https://twitter.com/MikeRossP/status/658368660860477440
https://twitter.com/Rewster7/status/658389582073860096
After the whole thing died down both teams could turn their attention to first ever all-Antipodean World Cup final, even if the ABs have been much more quiet than the Wallabies.
https://twitter.com/Wallabies/status/658671304804028416
https://twitter.com/AllBlacks/status/658394392298934272
