French fan grateful for help with house

Skiing accident victim Stephen Giroud is looking forward to the World Cup Final in which he predicts: 'France will beat the All Blacks'. Photo / Supplied

The badly injured "human tricolore" from France who was struggling to find somewhere to live has found himself a home.

Stephen Giroud and his English girlfriend Sarah Taylor could not find wheelchair accessible lodgings up until Christmas at a reasonable price.

The couple contacted the Herald last week in the hope someone might be able to help them with their plight.

But despite a number of readers sending in offers of accommodation, the pair were able to find somewhere to live on their own on Monday.

"We want to thank the five or six people who came forward to help us, it was very very nice of them and we are very grateful. We also want to thank the Herald for telling our story," Mr Giroud said.

"We managed to find somewhere in the city centre, so I can get around and make something of my day."

Mr Giroud has been in a wheelchair after he shattered two heels and broke his wrist after a skiing accident in Cadrona at the end of August.

Mr Giroud said he has been stopped in the street by people who recognised him from his picture.

Last Friday, he had an accident getting off a bus and went to Auckland Hospital for x-rays and new casts.

He said staff there recognised him from the paper and the "shiny" new casts meant he was "kind of famous".

When he and Ms Taylor asked about a reservation at French restaurant Pastis in central Auckland to watch the game they were told it was fully booked.

"But we asked the guy at the bar and he told me because of the funny story he might find a space for me."

The couple got a table and "had a great time" watching the match, but Mr Giroud said he thought Les Bleus could have played better.

"But I'm still very confident France will beat the All Blacks in the final," he said.