There you see the French president Francois Hollande having a quiet word in a noisy Stade de France with Jonny Wilkinson, who ended a fabulous career as un rugbyman d'exception with a man-of-the-match display as Toulon beat Castres 18-10 to become champions of France. Just as he had helped them to the championship of Europe in Cardiff last weekend.
What an ambassador for Britain in France. He delights the French both by his superb play - all but three of the 18 points came from his exemplary kicking - and his comportment. Jonny, the "blond angel" according to yesterday's Var-Matin newspaper, expresses himself well in the French he learned from reading detective thrillers in the language of Molière. And he seems a complete gentleman.
"I didn't like the English until Jonny came here," one woman said as France 3 interviewed Toulon supporters.
I can hardly wait to speak to French friends I know who made the trek up to Paris for the game. Bravo Jonny. Bravo Toulon.
But is rugby union too posh? See http://salutsunderland.com/2014/06/poyets-uruguay-jozys-usa-make-the-running-is-jonnys-toulon-too-posh/
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