While the Irish rugby bubble was caught up in the news of Bundee Aki's citing and suspension last Wednesday, opponents France were dealing with something much bigger.
The news that France and La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio was in intensive care after a cardiac event caused shockwaves across the world of rugby.
The 35-year-old has been a foundation for the success of both France and La Rochelle in recent years, with the tighthead prop winning 68 caps and playing more than 300 times for Stade Rochelais.
Atonio pulled out of the French Six Nations squad early last week with what was suspected to be a sternum issue, but the reality was far more serious, with an immediate retirement from rugby ahead of a long recovery process.
In the days that followed, tributes poured in from around the rugby world, while his head coach Ronan O’Gara was close to tears speaking in the media in the days that followed.
And ahead of facing France on Thursday in the opening round of the Guinness Six Nations, Ireland’s Dan Sheehan extended his support on behalf of the Irish side.
"It's pretty tragic, it puts things into perspective," the Ireland hooker said.
"Only two or three weeks ago, we were playing against him [in the Champions Cup]. To hear something like that forces him into retirement, obviously we wish him all the best.
"He's been a top competitor, especially for us Leinster lads over the last couple of years. So, it definitely put things in perspective that, you know, rugby's not the most important thing."
Given the rivalries that have brewed between Leinster and La Rochelle, and Ireland and France, in recent seasons, Sheehan has quite literally packed down cheek-by-jowl with the seismic tighthead on many occasions.
And he says Atonio’s personality is at odds with bruising physique.
"He's always been the friendly character. He's probably the opposite of [Will] Skelton in some ways. He's the one sort of chatting to you.
"He'd just be having normal conversations with you in scrums and stuff, and you're just like, 'What the heck?’
"But he'd come up to you after a game and just chat to you as if he's known you for years. So he's always been that sort of friendly character, but yet a seriously talented competitor at the same time.
"Sometimes I struggle to see how he's able to just go from one sort of personality to the other.
"He's been top, top quality for so many years now, and we wish him all the best."
Evening kick-offs at the Stade are never dull affairs, and Thursday will be no exception, particularly with Atonio in the thoughts of the French crowd.
Having played in Marseille two years ago, it's four years since Ireland last took on France at the Stade, although they did play twice at the venue in the World Cup in 2023.
And Sheehan is expecting a very different atmosphere this week.
"When someone asks me 'What's your favourite away stadium?', I think it's the Stade de France," the 27-year-old said.
"It's a great atmosphere that you just embrace and love. If you love rugby you should love playing in those venues.
"Obviously playing there four years ago, that was my first big game where I came off the bench early and that was a good ‘Welcome to international rugby’.
"I just love playing in those environments and even in Marseille [in 2024] that was another great day for us.
"We just need to make sure that it doesn't overwhelm us at all and that's my job. A lot of lads with experiences, to tell the lads that it's just a brilliant place to go and play rugby and go and perform."
Sheehan (above) was in the early stages of his Irish career when he first played a Paris Test in 2022, and he says we could learn a thing or two from the French supporters at home.
"There'll be loads of Irish there but the French don't wish you bad. They're just looking for a good game and I think they're just excited to see a good match," said the British and Irish Lions hooker.
"I think the French are just very supportive people and I don't think they need to be on the pints all day to get in behind their teams with a bit of noise.
"They're chanting the whole way, marching bands, all the lot. It's a brilliant place.
"I think we just need to embrace it and hopefully jump on the back of it."
Follow a live blog on France v Ireland in the Six Nations on Thursday from 8.10pm. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1
Watch France v Ireland in the Under-20 Six Nations on Saturday from 7.50pm on the RTÉ News Channel and RTÉ Player
Watch live coverage of England v Ireland (21 February) and Ireland v Wales (6 March) on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player
