If you are French and superstitious then Friday 13th may not be the best day to face World Champions South Africa.
Les Bleus have had their own horror franchise against the Springboks in the last few years including that gut-wrenching one point defeat in the 2023 Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals, one the greatest games I have been privileged to attend.
That defeat continues to haunt France and indeed every French supporter but last night at Stade de France there was an opportunity to at least ease the pain of that recurring nightmare.
Luck is something France have had in spades recently unfortunately it has nearly all been of the bad variety.
Injuries dominated pre match discussions, France had 23 front line players missing with injury at least 12 of whom will miss the remainder of the Nations Championship.
Fly halves have been dropping like flies so much so that Scrum half Antoine Dupont was given the starting number 10 shirt.
South Africa had not got away lightly either on the injury front with, but they are not in the same infirmary league as their hosts.
So with both squads having spent most of Friday avoiding ladders and black cats whilst desperately searching for a rabbits foot the traditional post 9pm kick off in these parts eventually arrived much to the relief of all concerned.
Rassie Erasmus changed his entire front row and full back just before kick off a classic and not unusual move from the Springbok coach.
France may just have finally buried the ghosts of 2023 with a nerve jangling 21-19 win that defied logic after the Springbok scrum demolished the home pack pushing them almost back as far as the gare du Nord at one stage.
The depleted French scored three first half tries through tries by Grandidier Nkangang, Attissogbe, a of course Bielle-Biarrey.
Wessels replied for the Boks but France 21-7 half-time lead was more than justified.
This was rugby at another level a pulsating match that seemed to have more cards than Clintons.
The second half was only three minutes old when Wiese was shown a yellow upgraded to red.
Following first half yellow cards to de Jager and Lucu, Grandidier Nkanang and Montagne were also sent to the naughty step in a second half where South Africa’s scrum and catch and drive threatened to demolish France.
But in the end a threat was all it was. For the final thirty minutes somehow the men in blue held out.
When the final whistle blew the scenes were euphoric on and off the field.
Galthie’s may well have out Rassied Rassie and in adversity has maybe found a potential rugby development of playing two scrum halves at halfback interchanging in defence and attack.
As for Antoine Dupont well he was sublime Since his return from injury it has felt like a slightly diluted version of the genius but last night it was the full-bodied vintage that was uncorked. One left-footed 50:22 literally took the breath away.
Whether The rabbits foot was found is unknown, if it was then knowing France’s luck it probably had a pulled muscle, but last night France did not need luck they trumped it with desire, courage and no little skill.
So, on Friday 13th France finally slept peacefully having turned a recurring nightmare into one marvellous sweet dream.
