Strong-willed and opinionated, he's not even shy about imparting his views to his national coaches. On foot of Fabien Galthie's clash with Pierre Villepreux last summer, which resulted in his initial exclusion from the French World Cup squad, the scrum-half was reported to have said that if he saw Jean-Claude Skrela and Villepreux on the same side of the street, he'd cross the road.

You'd have thought that would have been the end of the story, and perhaps anywhere else but France that would indeed have been it. What followed, though, was a very French rapprochement. The essence of Galthie's summer complaint was that, in endeavouring to play an all-singing, all-dancing game, France had forgotten how to walk; that in concentrating on a pacey, running and handling game, France were no longer tackling and competing physically; they could no longer do the basics.

Given France had lost to Tonga, to New Zealand A and to the All Blacks (54-7), Galthie appeared to have a point.

Villepreux announced that Galthie did not suit the team's style when he left him out of the 30-man World Cup squad, despite an injury to Philippe Carbonneau. Instead, the management preferred the strictly limited Stephane Castaignede (a 30-year-old with one cap) and Pierre Mignoni (a comparatively lightweight 22-year-old with six caps).

Cue Galthie's sideswipe. He settled down to watch the World Cup on television, a seemingly embittered player who had burnt his bridges. All the time, though, his form with Colomiers was exceptional, which prompted a huge media campaign on his behalf.

Thus, when Mignoni was injured against Namibia in the pool stages, the cries for Galthie to be called up became a crescendo. Skrela, Villepreux and Joe Maso relented, and Galthie was summoned. He helped to settle France in their laboured, late win over Fiji in their final pool game, then started both of the knock-out games.

A survivor of the 1991 and '95 World Cups, a similar fate befell him four years ago. Then Galthie was initially overlooked by Pierre Berbizier, which prompted him to join Nick Mallett's club in Cape Town, False Bay.

Galthie did so well that he was selected for Western Province, but, before his scheduled Currie Cup debut, Guy Accoceberry was injured and Berbizier summoned Galthie. He was on the bench against Ireland, but promoted for the semi-final defeat to South Africa, when he was outstanding.

"This is life, this is sport," he says in typically philosophical French style. "When I saw the first match for the opening of the World Cup, Wales against Argentina, I was in my house with a beer and a few friends. Good match. It's a very nice World Cup," he says, jokingly. "For the last match I will not be with my friends in my house with a beer. I will be on the field. Totally different. That's life," he repeats.

For an opinionated and strong-willed character, he is nothing less than co-operative in his dealings with the media. He certainly took everything in his stride in Cardiff this week.

Firstly, he deals with half a dozen French journalists, who have hemmed him into a corner by an elevator. Unshaven, he leans back against a wall, and has an almost permanent smile as he speaks in hushed tones.

The same at-ease manner is conveyed when he switches languages for some English-speaking journalists. Those closer to the French camp maintain that Galthie, along with Christophe Lamaison and Abdel Benazzi, have made the difference, not only with their performances in the knock-out games, but in influencing tactics on the training ground. Although Villepreux's belief in the virtues of pace, and his eye for All Black weaknesses, were clearly an immense influence, there's no doubt that France's semi-final performance marked a shift to a more back-to-basics approach.

Benazzi led from the front, making the hard yards. Lamaison played a much more tactical kicking game and converted seven place-kicks out of seven. Galthie epitomised his belief in a more physical, hard-tackling game with a mighty tackle count, as well as flawless decision-making and expert box kicking. The highlight was his chip ahead for Christophe Dominici's match-turning try.

So you suggest he's made a big difference. He shrugs the suggestion off modestly. "I just try and play my best." Then he has a quick rethink and adds with a mischievous broad smile: "Maybe the difference. Maybe."

Even now, the rumour is that Galthie doesn't talk to Skrela and Villepreux. How are things between him and the French management?

"Yes, yes. It's alright. It's alright." How did you work everything out? "It's alright. It's alright," he insists, ensuring widespread laughter, but also that the subject isn't delved into any further.

While injuries to others benefited Galthie in this World Cup and in 1995, but for his own injuries he would have had a good deal more caps to his name than 29. Ireland supporters will remember his brilliant, try-scoring cameo in 1997 at Lansdowne Road before he departed with a serious knee injury.

A Colomiers loyalist all his career, he initially struggled to cope with the huge expectations of him before gradually nailing down the French number nine jersey.

Galthie evolved into more of a team player and less an individualist. He is probably playing the best rugby of his life now, and will need to be today against George Gregan. "He's a good player, one of the best in the world, maybe the best."

Back home, a nation expects after the street singing and horn-tooting celebrations of last Sunday. Galthie's chequered career and status as an icon has ensured a full page in L'Equipe today. Galthie draws comfort from being away from the fuss. "It is good because we are not in the country and we are under no pressure. We don't know exactly what's happening in our country. Our country is now a hotel, in Dublin, in London and now here. So we can't see anyone, only the team and the match."

The sudden adoption of France by the rest of the Northern hemisphere, and the potential consequences of a French win, are given a Gallic shrug as well.

"After the final, not before. Before it is only 15 players. After you can speak a long time, long time, about many things, about the difference between Southern Hemisphere and Northern Hemisphere, but before the match and in the match only 15 players."

Nonetheless, Galthie is hopeful that the neutrals in the Millennium Stadium will support France.

"Why not? I hope, if we play well. I think the (Welsh) public like rugby and if you play good rugby they are happy."

Nor is Galthie under any illusions about the general strengths of these Wallabies.

"They are a complete team - good forwards and good backs - very good organisation, very good players, one of the best teams in the world. To beat them we have to play like last Sunday. Only that will do."