Just over 48 hours to a major international sporting final in which France are playing and the silence is deafening. Normally the Gallic rooster – unofficial national symbol and mascot for the France rugby union team – would be crowing its head off.

Normally the chants of "on va gagner" (we're going to win), which comes a close second to "Allez Les Bleus" as a stadium favourite, would have started up in the city days ago.

Normally the atmosphere would be one of supreme confidence. Unlike the English the French approach most major competitions with the conviction, from the start, that they will probably win. Defeat is rarely expected. When it comes it is either a surprise or, as in the case of the French XV's trouncing by Tonga a few weeks ago, a total humiliation.

This time, however, Chanteclair, the French cockerel after whom the team takes its nickname and whose crow – "cocorico" – is used to express national pride, is silent. The All Blacks may be trying to talk France up in Auckland but back home there is a certain realism, even humility, that goes against the grain.

On France-Inter radio a phone-in programme asked: can Les Bleus win? The response was mixed. The station's rugby correspondent, Patrick Grivaz, said the term "French flair", often used to suggest the national team's manner of playing, should be "definitively banned". "It may have existed 15 to 20 years ago but it's finished," he added. "I'm not sure it's even compatible with modern rugby."

Pierre Berbizier, former coach of the national team, told listeners: "We are in the final; good for us. But it was not a glorious passage getting there."

Still, scratch the surface and the "you think we won't but we're still going to win" is just below. In the press the team is being presented as the valiant underdog … that just may pull the whole thing off.

"Believe in the impossible," urged L'Equipe, trying to revive the customary self-assurance. "France's XV players know they are capable of the impossible to be crowned champions of the world … Because nobody sees them winning on Sunday … they have every chance of being crowned world champions."

Just as well then that Vincent Clerc, who scored a try against England in the quarter-finals, told the paper: "We like difficulties. It's then we are able to be sublime, to find the best in ourselves, to believe in the impossible. It's a French quality."

For fans there has been a feeling of a certain deja vu from what one French newspaper described as the "cat and mouse" games between the coach, Marc Lièvremont – sporting a curious pencil moustache after a bet with another coach – and the players.

For one horrible moment after he described them as "spoiled children … disobedient and ill-disciplined brats" for going out on the razz to celebrate their Welsh victory when he had told them not to, it looked as if another French national team would implode.

French sports fans are still traumatised by Raymond Domenech's spectacular falling-out with his squad during the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. President Nicolas Sarkozy dispatched a government minister to crack a few heads together, but the team came home in disgrace.

Thankfully Lièvremont seemed chastened when he apologised for his verbal attack on the team, saying he should have learned to "keep my big mouth shut". Still, there were mutters of discontent again when after winning the "toss for colours" the team manager, Jo Maso, decided to allow the New Zealand squad to play in black as they are the home team in their own country.

"What is all that about?" said Jérôme, a disgruntled Parisian rugby fan. "It's like we're apologising for being in the final."

Up to 11 million in France watched on TV as Wales were beaten last Saturday. This Sunday the Stade de France in Paris has opened its gates and invited supporters to watch on a giant screen for nothing.

On French radio one rugby fan summed it up: "Of course I am very happy France are in the final," she said. "But in all honesty we don't deserve to be there."

On Sunday morning, however, you can be sure few will be bothered how France got to the Rugby World Cup final. It will be enough for the French that they are there. And Chanteclair will be crowing cocorico louder than ever.