Wales star Owen Watkin was forced off the pitch against France after a horrific injury that left his team-mates wincing, though he turned away the opportunity to be stretchered off in what might be a positive update.
After carrying the ball, a forceful challenge left him crumpled in a heap and made a sickening noise.
TV replays looked gruesome as it appeared his knee buckled underneath him, leaving him in considerable pain as a deathly silence broke out around the Stade de France – a rare moment in a cauldron of noise otherwise.
Watkin was left downed, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes while France and Wales players alike looked shocked.
Owen Watkin was in considerable pain as he came off against France
PA
Australian referee Paul Williams signalled for a stretcher but physios managed to get him on his feet and carry him off.
Even as the centre made his way off the pitch, he could not open his eyes and looked in large amounts of pain as fans sent their well-wishes on social media.
Watkin already had his knee heavily strapped up before a ball had been kicked, indicating that he might have been carrying an injury going into the match.
And indeed, TV replays showed that he might have hurt himself before he even hit the ground.
It was not what Wales boss Warren Gatland needed on the opening night of the Six Nations, with his side fancied as the Wooden Spoon winners this year.
The Dragons were 14-0 down before the injury happened after tries from Theo Attissogbe and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
But France superstar Antoine Dupont, who missed last year’s Six Nations, was already strutting his stuff with some gorgeous play to get the French up and running.
After Evan Lloyd was sent to the sin-bin, Dupont pulled off some magic play to set Attissogbe up for his second try of the night.
Owen Watkin’s knee was already heavily strapped before kick-off
PA
Another try for Bielle-Biarrey, with all four tries being converted by Thomas Ramos, left Wales 28-0 down at half-time.
With the Welsh desperate to end a 12-match losing streak, it became evidently clear after 40 minutes that this run was not stopping anytime soon.
France are fancied as the pre-tournament favourites and the biggest challenger to Ireland, who are looking to win the Six Nations for a third time in a row.
Such a feat has never been managed before but the loss of coach Andy Farrell has already had an impact, having lost to New Zealand during the Autumn Internationals.
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