Opération Satanique was the codename used by the French intelligence services during the operation to sink the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland Harbour in 1985. France's presence in next weekend's World Cup final at Eden Park is provoking similar sentiments. As their skipper, Thierry Dusautoir, muttered: "There are a lot of people angry to see us in the final and who think we're not talented."
In Dusautoir's book, the critics are ignoring the coeur de lion spirit of his players. "We play with our hearts. Now we can say that playing with your hearts is enough to get you to the Rugby World Cup final." Alongside him, the coach, Marc Lièvremont, sat back and stroked his Dick Dastardly moustache. "I don't care at all whether it's a good match or not, or whether the Welsh deserved to be in the final. We've qualified for the final and that's all that matters."
Had it been Martin Johnson sitting in the same seat, he would have made exactly the same point, if not with the same lip-curling Gallic insouciance. Yet, even by the standards of battling finalists such as Brian Ashton's 2007 England side, this French team has defied logic. Two weeks ago they were beaten – and comfortably so – by Tonga. No side in history has ever lost two pool games and reached a World Cup final. Even the English have played with more élan at this tournament.
That was certainly the view from the Welsh camp, still simmering with injustice at Sam Warburton's early bath. "No disrespect to France, it wasn't their decision to send him off, but let's hope they play a bit more rugby than they did tonight," said Warren Gatland, suggesting the French had "kicked the ball in the air about 38 times". His defence coach, Shaun Edwards, complained it was "a travesty that the team who should be playing on Sunday isn't going to be there". He did not sound as if he will be loudly singing the Marseillaise next weekend.
So how have France done it? Lièvremont joked about guardian angels, but also insisted his players had shown plenty of fortitude to bounce back from their defeats by New Zealand and Tonga. "It shows they have a lot of strength of character and deserve to win the World Cup. I will not brood or be unhappy because it was not our best game. What matters is we are going to the final."
His players still seemed bemused. "The rugby gods sided with us tonight," admitted the lock, Pascal Papé, still shaking his head at the memory of Leigh Halfpenny's narrow penalty miss. "Maybe it was just our destiny," Dimitri Yachvili said. "I don't think we have realised yet what's happening to us. Who would have thought we would come this far? But if we have made it this far in the tournament, we must have a few qualities, right? We must believe in ourselves."
No one could argue that players such as Yachvili, Dusautoir and Imanol Harinordoquy lack class, but, in the end, this game will be remembered for the performance of the Frenchman with the Welsh-sounding Christian name. Morgan Parra, who has made such a success of his move from scrum-half to No10, is known as La Ronce by his team-mates. It translates as the Gorse Bush, a reflection of his spikiness and his refusal to let go. While Wales missed almost everything they kicked, Parra coolly nailed the three kicks that mattered and was praised by his grateful coach for his brave defence and his general composure. "We had a narrow escape and we are alive and kicking … we have not played the most spectacular rugby, but we are still here. We must believe in the future of this team," urged Lièvremont, insisting that fear of losing to 14 men had caused France to tighten up. "We were inhibited when they had 14 and we had 15. It made us nervous and that was the paradoxical thing about the game."
Nervous of winning? It is not a great omen for Sunday's final. France will also be conscious that they have twice failed to win a World Cup final with superior teams to this one. How England must be kicking themselves, having begun their quarter-final at a snail's pace and handed Les Bleus a 16-0 half-time lead from which there could be no escape. What must Tonga be thinking now?
"I'd prefer to play like this and be in the final than play well and lose," Yachvili argued. It is an understandable point but the neutrals are unimpressed. Yet again, a side who have deliberately shunned all risk have reached rugby's showpiece occasion. At least there is a certain symmetry in France playing like England and being guided to a World Cup final by their Yorkshire-born defence coach, Dave Ellis. Talk about dark Satanique mills.
