Among those who missed out on seeing Ireland’s famous win over New Zealand was Sean O’Brien.
The Leinster flanker was mid-air as the province flew home from Italy following a Pro12 win and found out the result over the airplane’s intercom.
“I was on the way back from Zebre and the pilot announced that they’d won,” O’Brien told RTÉ Sport.
“There was a great sense of excitement and delight throughout the plane.”
However, after coming so close to getting a place on the Chicago trip, the elation was tinged with a sense of ‘what might have been’.
Joe Schmidt felt that 29-year-old O’Brien, regaining match-fitness after an eight-month lay-off, was just short of what would be required in Solider Field.
“Afterwards that evening when I settled down a bit I was obviously disappointed I wasn’t there to be involved with the lads,” he said.
"Seeing them get around the field and the fans and the whole occasion but that’s just part of it and it was probably a week too soon for me."
"I wouldn't say I completely agreed with [the decision].
"But that's the call that they made. I did need more game-time, but you always back yourself if called upon to do a good job.
"I've had no issues. I felt better every week and getting that game conditioning under my belt. I would have been 100% if selected (for Chicago).
"Looking at it now, I'm probably better off getting more game-time like I did at the weekend and being introduced back in this week."
Into the void came fellow Leinster back row Jordi Murphy, who scored Ireland's first try before going off with a serious knee injury that will keep him sidelined for up to nine months.
“Jordi’s been unfortunate,” said the Carlow man. “He was having a stormer for the first 20 and he’s just very unlucky.
“I was out for eight months myself up until recently and it’s a tough time, mentally you go through a lot, ups and downs along the way.
“When you’re out for a long time you question a lot of things but that’s just part of it and as long as you’re giving yourself something to stride towards it helps a lot.”
O’Brien played for an hour as Leinster moved to the top of the Pro12 table and hopes to continue his progress against Canada on Saturday.
So while the Chicago panel, many of whom will be rested for the 7.15pm kick-off at the Aviva (live on RTÉ2), can afford to bask in the glory of the famous victory, O’Brien turns his thoughts to the Canucks, against whom he scored a try in the 50-7 World Cup win last year.
The Lions forward added: “It will be my first time back in an Ireland jersey for a long time, one which I’m really looking forward to
“I’ve got a good few minutes over the last four weeks, [I'm] pleased with where I am.
“[I] got another 60 under the belt last week, feeling good now and hopefully a good week’s training and I’ll be ready to rock.
“They’ll have a better insight into us with Mark Anscombe coaching them, the former Ulster coach.
“They’ve a few very experienced heads, the likes of [back row] Aaron Carpenter and [winger] DTH Van Der Merwe, so they have some experienced players and they have threats all over the field.
“Like the World Cup, they surprised us a little bit with a few different things.
“It’s important that we refocus the minds again and get back down to earth and look at the job in hand.
“Last week is gone now and obviously history has been made but we still have to roll up our sleeves and make sure that we’re doing everything possible to put in a good performance.”
You can hear more from Sean O'Brien speaking to Michael Corcoran on RTÉ Radio 1's Drivetime at 5.30pm and 2fm's Game On from 7pm.
