My god it was tense.
Ireland lead France 9-6 at the interval in Cardiff after 40 minutes which could only have been more tense if there was a giant asteroid bearing down on earth threatening to destroy us all. Don't worry - you're not the only one feeling this way. Here's how the opening half played out on Twitter.
The mind games started before kick off as Paulie took the boys for a run in enemy territory.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/653229000140148736
As kick off arrived, Super Sunday was upon us and the noise was deafening.
https://twitter.com/MCThomasSport/status/653235667787456516
With two turnovers in the first three minutes Peter O'Mahony was playing like a man possessed.
https://twitter.com/bencoles_/status/653236553301553152
He wasn't the only one.
https://twitter.com/colmtobin/status/653236803034550272
The French missed two early kicks as Ireland rode their luck.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/653238435147313153
Though Johnny Sexton didn't need much luck as he put Ireland 3-0 ahead.
https://twitter.com/WhosAdrianBarry/status/653239007074193408
Scott Spedding's second attempt sailed through the posts and the nerves were jangling again.
https://twitter.com/colmtobin/status/653239774027907072
Another exchange of penalties bewteen Sexton and Spedding didn't exactly ease the tension.
And neither did Picamoles' huge hit on Sexton.
https://twitter.com/patmccarry/status/653241038149156864
And Ireland's key man could take no further part.
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/653242438618845184
His replacement, Ian Madigan, didn't need much time to settle, slotting over his first kick to make it 9-6.
https://twitter.com/MrNiallMcGarry/status/653242798188183552
Keith Earls could have given Ireland a little breathing space but his handling let him down after Tommy Bowe ran a perfect line of a stunning set play move.
https://twitter.com/RobTimony/status/653244134644424704
https://twitter.com/SportsJOEdotie/status/653244059687981056
https://twitter.com/MCThomasSport/status/653244628288819201
But thankfully for Ireland Madigan was settling in nicely to his role as Ireland's pivot.
https://twitter.com/ianprior/status/653245417048641536
Though the injury to Paul O'Connell right on the half time whistle left everyone fretting again.
https://twitter.com/MickClearyTel/status/653247691930116097
https://twitter.com/KMcGillicuddy86/status/653247419728154625
https://twitter.com/SecondCaptains/status/653247075791044608
Half time: Ireland 9 France 6.
