Rugby World Cup: French thank lucky star for tilt at final

Commentators wonder at Les Bleus' win against spirited Welsh 'red devils'. Photo / Dean Purcell

French rugby commentators invoked fate, a lucky star - and in one view, the Virgin Mary - as possibly the only reason France were able to reach the Rugby World Cup final after a stumbling, error-strewn odyssey.

"The only explanation is divine intervention, but we don't know of what kind," Midi Libre newspaper said.

"We should be asking Les Bleus if, like Bernadette Soubirous, the Virgin Mary suddenly appeared before them," it said, referring to the patron saint of Lourdes.

The specialist publication Rugbyrama said France had been given "a terrific boost by destiny" when Welsh captain Sam Warburton was red-carded for a dangerous tackle.

"Everything should have gone easy-peasy after that. But Les Bleus are French, so nothing is logical for them. They trembled right to the end."

France will be the first team to get to the World Cup final after having lost two matches in the pool stages.

In the quarter-final, they played against an England team that looked as stodgy as week-old Yorkshire pudding. In the semi, they were almost overwhelmed by Welsh "red devils" reduced to 14 men early in the game.

Les Bleus piled on mistake after mistake, shaking with nerves as the Welsh kept driving for their line, said Le Nouvel Observateur. "This Welsh team deserved to get to the final a hundred, a thousand times over."

Only Morgan Parra, "an impeccable defensive chief and France's only danger", stayed cool as his teammates choked, it said.

The wonder at France's survival and the tributes to Welsh spirit mixed with the hard reality: France are in the final and Wales are not. Les Bleus are now just one match from hoisting rugby's paramount trophy.

"We are permitted to dream," said Le Parisien.