The French said they nearly lost it because they were playing against 14 men.
The Welsh proclaimed their destiny had been taken away from them by losing a man.
Whatever the story, in the end it is only the result that counts.
France reached its third World Cup final but as a match it, frankly, came nowhere near the occasion.
There were more than 70 kicks in general play and that statistic alone shows what sort of game it was.
The encounter ultimately turned on the sending off of Welsh skipper and openside flanker Sam Warburton in the 18th minute.
His spear, tip or dangerous tackle - whatever you call it - had him sent from the field by referee Alain Rolland.
Warburton said afterwards it all happened very quickly.
"It was not malicious.
"His body went one way and I tried to control it and then went to control the ball.
"The next thing I know I am walking off into the stand," Warburton said.
Welsh coach Warren Gatland said he did not feel the tackle deserved a red card.
"I accepted he lifted him and it warrants a yellow card.
"But he let him go.
"He does not drive him into the ground.
"The reaction of the ref was what got me.
"He is an experienced ref yet he didn't ask his two touch judges, did not wait and have a look at the big screen.
"It just came out of the blue.
"I was wondering what was happening and then someone said `he's off'."
Under the rules of the game, Rolland was correct to send Warburton off but it was more of a tackle that got out of hand than an act of thuggery.
Gatland said the sending off and three missed penalty goals and a missed conversion cost his side in the end, but he was proud of his players.
"In two quality teams, if someone goes down to 14 men then the other team should win the game comfortably.
"I can't be more proud of the guys out there and what they achieved.
"It is a hollow feeling.
"Our destiny and opportunity have been taken away from us."
Welsh assistant coach Shaun Edwards did not mince words, saying the result was a "travesty" for the competition and the team that should be in the final on Sunday is not going to be.
Wales had started the game well, with James Hook kicking a penalty after just eight minutes.
The French went on the front foot after the sending off, going into the break 6-3 ahead.
But the Tricolors were timid in the second half, and played little rugby.
French coach Marc Lievremont said team did not play well but the most important thing was that it was through to the final.
"We did not start very well so we lost a bit of confidence.
"Very quickly we were 15 playing against 14 and we remained inhibited," Lievremont said.
"Yet we have won and that is the one thing for me."
It was disappointing in a semifinal to get someone sent off but it was a dangerous tackle which deserved a red card.
French captain Thierry Dusautoir said the red card put pressure on his team.
"That made us really nervous.
"We made wrong decisions, made mistakes and allowed them to stay in the match.
"It stopped us imposing our game and controlling the match," he said.
The French kicked the ball nearly every time they got it in the second half and after going ahead 9-3 through an early Morgan Parra penalty went completely into their shells.
Welsh halfback Mike Phillips scored a try with just over 20 minutes left, breaking around a ruck.
Unfortunately for the Welsh, Stephen Jones could not add the handy conversion to go into the lead and with five minutes to go, a long range penalty goal from fullback Leigh Halfpenny went astray.
Wales clocked up 25 phases at the end as it sought a way through but it was too tired and the French easily combated the attack.
Best for the French was its loose forward trio while lock Lionel Nallet was strong in the lineout when it mattered.
All of the Welsh were gallant and none tried harder than Phillips and young No 8 Toby Faletau.
World Cup semifinal
France 9: Morgan Parra 3 pen
Wales 8: Mike Phillips try; James Hook pen
Halftime: France 6-3
Crowd: 60,000