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For the second successive Six Nations weekend I will be in Paris, this time to run touch for my good friend Andrew Brace.

Andrew is Cardiff born and bred, although he represents the Irish Rugby Football Union when it comes to refereeing, and France versus Italy tomorrow will be his first Six Nations match in the middle.

I will be delighted and honoured to be there with him for his debut - more of that in a moment.

Last Sunday, Andrew and I were together again in Paris, this time he was assisting me as I did the France versus England opener.

I wrote in my column before the game that it could be my final Six Nations match as a referee. We will know more by the end of March, I guess, but if it does indeed prove to be my swansong what a way it will have been to bow out.

The first time I officiated an international at the Stade de France was in 2004-05, but I can tell you I have never heard it quite as loud as it was on Sunday. A rip-roaring atmosphere, France starting brilliantly, England fighting back superbly with those Jonny May tries, and at times we could hardly hear what was being said out on the pitch.

On a few occasions the second row and back row forwards were asking me to shout louder on the scrum set-up calls as they couldn't hear me. I told them 'I will try, but there are 80,000 people shouting louder than me!'

I guess it's because it's a new-look France team, one full of pace and energy, and the French public are getting right behind the side. The signing of La Marseillaise before the match was extraordinary, then it reverberated around the ground again five minutes from the end when England were camped near the French line, trying to get back in the game.

England will wish they had played a little bit better from the start, but credit to them for their fightback. It was an incredible afternoon, an occasion that again made you realise why the Six Nations is so very special.

So I was hardly going to let a couple of so-called England fans, who sent me abusive messages on social media, ruin it for me.

I'm told my one line response to one of them went a little viral in terms of people liking it, but that wasn't my intention. I simply felt the individual was being rude and sometimes you have to stand up to these people.

There was another, an Englishman who's in Australia, who called me a four-letter word. I noticed he has about 400,000 Twitter followers so again, rather than just ignore it, I responded.

"What a wonderful example to people on Twitter with language like that. I have no idea who you are, or what you do, but with so many followers surely you should show a bit of a better example to them. Have a good day. X.'

A lot of people seemed to latch on to that one too, saying 'Well done Nige.'

Listen, people can criticise my refereeing, I know that goes with the territory, but there is no need in society for blatant rudeness and name calling. And, I'm sure, the vast majority of decent people on social media would 100% agree with me on that.

I do get people telling me I'm better just ignoring this abuse, but I disagree with that at times. There is a responsibility in how you say things on social media, but perhaps there is also a responsibility sometimes not to just stand by and say nothing.

Some of course are just plain horrible people and there can be no reasoning with them.

But occasionally you need to stand up to these individuals and often, when you do, they will back off and realise the error of their ways. Imagine if everybody told them they were out of order... he or she would soon think twice before posting something quite so offensive again and social media, a great tool, would be better again for it.

I think the reason I responded the way I did was because the England players and their coach Eddie Jones were the exact opposite, had been very complimentary towards me after the final whistle, saying 'Well done Nigel.'

I've no doubts the vast majority of the public were also respectful, even if they may have disagreed with some of my decisions.

After the game I even had a hug off Owen Farrell. A few others, Kyle Sinckler, Ben Youngs and Ellis Genge amongst them, also came up to say thank-you to me for refereeing the match.

Perhaps they seemed to sense it might prove to be my final Six Nations game and wished to show their appreciation? A few said if this is your last one, congratulations on a great career. France wing Teddy Thomas, and a few other French and English players, even said they hope it's not my final one.

That meant a lot to me and says everything about the values of our game and those who play it.

The England squad could not have been more courteous towards me.

In fact, I will let you into another little secret. Farrell, as captain, presented me with an England jersey which read simply: 'France v England, Six Nations, Le Crunch, Nigel Owens 98th Test.'

That figure, of course, was a reference to the fact it was my 98th Test match in total and, as I say, could prove to be my last one in the Six Nations. Or even my last one full stop. The powers-that-be will have the final say on that.

On the back of the jersey it just had a big '98.' It was such a touching gesture from Farrell and his team.

I know some people out there seem to think England are arrogant, I know Welsh fans love to hate them - although, it must be stressed, that's very much in terms of traditional rugby rivalry only.

But I've obviously got to know the England squad and management over the years and I can tell you they are amongst the most down to earth, decent people you could wish to meet. I have a huge amount of respect for them, as I do for every team and the players I have officiated. Indeed, very few would not be on my Christmas card list.

There was no need for Farrell's gesture, but it showed him to be the likeable individual that he is.

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I guess that jersey will be framed and hung up in my local rugby club, Pontyberem RFC... although I will doubtless get some stick for it! Eventually it will go to one of the charities I'm associated with.

Rugby is a game that provokes emotions and passions, but even in defeat England behaved with incredible dignity towards me. That's what makes our sport so special and why a handful of abusers on social media won't spoil it for the rest of us.

Back to the game itself, what noise, what drama. You will have noticed, 40 seconds from the end, the French scrum-half Antoine Dupont run behind his own goalline and boot the ball out of play.

I honestly think he got caught up in the noise and frenzy of the atmosphere, thought the 80 minutes was up, when it clearly wasn't.

I had no option but to award England a five metre scrum, which really puts pressure on you as a referee because you have to get your decision-making spot on at a key time of the match. Scrums are never the easiest part of the game to referee and in a situation like that the spotlight is on you even more as a referee.

Thanks Antoine, I thought to myself!

I spoke to him afterwards and he told me that with the crowd singing and everything else that was going on, he just thought the clock had gone to 80 and booted it out.

When I had said 'five metre scrum, white', he just looked at me open-mouthed, straight away realised what he had done. But, of course, France held out for the win and Antoine was able to smile about the incident afterwards.

Do you know, he's not just a wonderful young player, but also a really nice guy to go with it.

You never see the expression change on his face, he never waves his arms about in protest. Often, as a referee, a scrum-half will be in your ear a little. Combative individuals like Peter Stringer, Mike Phillips, Matt Dawson, Aaron Smith, Eion Reddan pointing things out. It was never disrespectful, just part of their competitive nature.

But Dupont is not like that. He reminds me a little of Dwayne Peel in his mannerisms, just looks at you, nods his head and gets on with it.

His attitude upon booting that ball out was more one of 'Oh, what have I done,' rather than having a go at me for restarting play.

I will see him close up again this weekend, of course, against Italy, only this time from the touchline.

As I say, Andrew Brace is the referee and it's a wonderful opportunity for someone who I feel can be at the top for many years to come.

I took the referee's course at Llandaff Rugby Club 13 years ago that Andrew was on when he was just 18. We've kept in touch since, have become good friends and it will be an honour for me to be there with him on his special day.

As I say, Andrew is from Cardiff, but he was offered a player-coach role in a semi-pro capacity within the Munster province, became good friends with John Lacey, who is his coach, and was always keen to take up refereeing.

I tell lots of young referees today that while it's great you play the game, if you want to get to the top you probably need to start officiating in your mid-20s, rather than your mid-30s, as used to be the case in the past.

You see young referees like Andrew being promoted to the Test scene earlier these days and I think that's a great thing.

I was also there on touch for the first Six Nations games for Ben O'Keefe, JP Doyle, Matt Carley, Nic Berry, so it will be great to be there with Andrew for his moment.

I've followed his refereeing career really closely since that day at Llandaff RFC and there's a personal thing here, too.

His dad, who was immensely proud of the strides Andrew made, passed away recently so sadly can't be there in Paris.

He was huge Welsh rugby fan and obviously closely followed everything Andrew did, as a player and then as a referee.

So it will be a poignant moment for Andrew in Paris, professionally and personally as he stands there ready for kick off this weekend.

It's an honour and a privilege that I will be there with him.