All rise - the teams contest a line-out (Getty Images).

All Blacks chief John Mitchell on Thursday saluted the obstinacy of England head coach Clive Woodward.

Mitchell saw his pre-tournament favourites claim third place in the World Cup after dominating a second-string French side in the play-off match nobody wanted to play.

And then the man who was Woodward's assistant just over two years ago gave an insight into the passion with which England will compete with Australia for the Webb Ellis trophy on Saturday.

"It means everything to Clive," said Mitchell, who faces flak from media and public alike when he flies home to New Zealand tomorrow.

"His programme has been going for six years and he has been really obstinate in his methods to improve English rugby.

"He identified very early that there would need to be skill development and he has surrounded himself with some pretty mature people.

"They both have a chance on Saturday. They have two different styles and it is too hard to call.

"It will come down to the team with the most will on the day. It will come down to the error rate and there won't be a lot in it. We'd love to see Australia win for the southern hemisphere but I have got some friendships to consider as well and I'm looking forward to watching it."

While Mitchell was cagey about his World Cup prediction he reiterated there was no chance of him resigning after New Zealand's failure to reach the final. He maintained there was nothing he would have changed about their preparation.

"The key area was that we lacked maturity in the semi-final," he said. "We are very young and maybe I underestimated that area. But when this group mature they'll be even better. I didn't make any mistakes with the selection of the squad.

"Sometimes teams have to go through these experiences and if this group remain together it will hold them in good stead. England had the same experience in 1999 in the quarter-final and many teams learn from experience."

Mitchell insisted the All Blacks would persevere with their attacking, running style which has brought 81 tries in 2003, six of them today when wing Doug Howlett and fullback Mils Muliaina scored their seventh touchdowns of the tournament to become the World Cup's joint-leading try scorers.

They were joined on the scoresheet by second-row Chris Jack, young wing Joe Rokocoko, Brad Thorn and Marty Holah with Pepito Elhorga grabbing France's consolation touchdown.

They were just about the only notes of worth from a match which saw New Zealand return to the Telstra Stadium scene of their semi-final grief against Australia and France their rain-lashed defeat against England.

Considering the All Blacks had also missed out on a £35,000 bonus per man it was hardly surprising the match lacked intensity with both sides going through the motions before a crowd of 62,712, many of whom were streaming home 10 minutes before the final whistle.

French coach Bernard Laporte made 13 changes to his side, hoping to announce a new chapter in French rugby leading to the 2007 World Cup France will host, while New Zealand made just one switch in their starting line-up - scrum-half Steve Devine coming in for the injured Justin Marshall.

But the match had an exhibition air with little edge and while France held New Zealand to a 14-6 lead at half-time it was only a matter of time before the All Blacks class told.

Laporte later insisted he had no regrets and was proud of his side's fourth-placed position.

"We have to admit the supremacy of the All Blacks tonight," he said. "But we have had a good World Cup, made the semi-finals and played some good rugby en route. Many people would have loved to have been in our position.

"We could have beaten England but there is a certain fragility in the French game at times. Now we can move forward to be a force in the Six Nations."

One omen for England - in all previous World Cups the eventual winners and the team which finished third have come from the same semi-final.

Just another obstacle for Woodward to overcome on Saturday.