No, you weren’t hearing things, that was Nigel Owens speaking Welsh during the France v Italy match.
It left some viewers baffled, given the teams involved and the fact his assistants were all Scottish, on an evening when he became the first man to referee 100 Test matches.
So who was he speaking to?
Well, the clue lies in the identity of the replacement Italian scrum-half.
That was one Stephen Varney, a Welsh speaker from Pembrokeshire.
So when he came on with 14 minutes to go, Owens switched to his first language to give his instructions.
You could hear him saying “Aros fyna” to the Gloucester teenager, meaning “stay there”, to ensure he didn’t go offside.
Then, at scrum-time, he talked about him putting the ball into the “canol” - the middle.
Varney was born in Pembrokeshire and hails from the hamlet of Rhoshill, a few miles south of Cardigan.
He attended the Welsh medium secondary school of Ysgol y Preseli, in Crymych, and is the son of former Neath and Aberavon flanker Adrian Varney.
But his full name is Stephen Lorenzo Varney and he qualifies for Italy through his mother Valeria.
His mum was born in west Wales, but both of her parents were born in Italy, hence his eligibility.
The 19-year-old made his Test debut as a substitute against Scotland earlier this month and now he has his second cap.
There could be a very big day lying ahead for him next weekend, as he may well be involved against the land of his birth in the final round of Autumn Nations Cup matches.
While Varney is just starting out on his international career, Owens is at the record-breaking stage of his, becoming the first centurion referee.
Speaking to Amazon Prime Video following his big night in Paris, he said: "It’s quite strange emotions, really.
"It’s a privilege and honour to be part of this wonderful game and to be about for so many years and to reach that milestone.
"I have never refereed to achieve any numbers or milestones. But, at the end of the last Six Nations, you are on 98 and then two games it’s 100.
"It’s nice to get that century and particularly to be the first. I certainly won’t be the last, but to be the first is very special.
"It’s also maybe a little sad feeling as well, because you realise you are getting older and there is not much time left at this level of the game.
"So the emotions are a bit strange. Maybe it’s my last game, I don’t know. We will have to wait for the big bosses to decide what is what.
"I hope not, but we will have to wait to see.
"But it was wonderful to be part of two great teams and a nice decent game. It was a pleasure and an honour to be out there with the players on the field."
Expanding on his future, he said: "It’s a strange old feeling.
"I felt good out there, my fitness is good, I like to believe I performed well and contributed to the game.
"So it’s difficult then to step away from it.
"But I understand they need to bring younger referees through and if I’m not going to be about for the 2023 World Cup in France, then they need to give young referees opportunities and to challenge them. I understand and I support that.
"So I will have to sit down with the bosses, with Joel Jutge, the World Rugby referees manager, over the next couple of weeks and if this is my last game I understand and respect that.
"But hopefully I will be involved in the Six Nations and if I am then probably the end of the season will be my last then.
"We will have to wait and see. I am still enjoying it and if I am still contributing to the game then, yeah, I hope to stay a part of it, but we shall see."
