SEPTEMBER 24, 2015 will forever be remembered as the first time Paul O’Connell was afraid of something.

Ireland were on a down-day this afternoon ahead of Sunday’s second World Cup game against Romania on Sunday, using their spare time to visit Alton Towers, and try out some clay-pigeon shooting.

Rugby players can often be intimidating to look at, but seeing the bulky internationals frightened for their lives is a fantastic leveller.

Even Paul O’Connell got a bit edgy…

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Fierce shook…

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

As if roller coasters aren’t scary enough, this young lad had to sit beside Tadhg Furlong.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Devin Toner wasn’t too bothered by the whole thing. Also, look at how far his legs stick out the bottom.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Tadhg Furlong won the award for Facial Expression of the Day. And Mike Ross dropping his bind…

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

They then moved on to clay-pigeon shooting, which Conor Murray just LOVED.

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Paulie looked like he’d done this before.

Tadhg Furlong has found his new Tinder photo.

And Keith Earls even had the cloth cap and gilet to seriously look the part.

That pensive gaze out over the horizon…

It was all about the roller coasters though. Poor Conor Murray all on his own…

Analysis: Romania can cause chaos at the scrum, but only if the referee lets them

This picture from after Wales v Uruguay shows just what the World Cup is all about