By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Sydney

Fly-half Frederic Michalak may still be this World Cup's leading points scorer, but the rising star of French rugby was taught a tangible lesson from his opposite number Jonny Wilkinson on Sunday.

The 21-year-old had turned in such a series of showstopping performances as France cruised through to the semi-finals that he was vying with New Zealand's Carlos Spencer for top billing in the tournament.

Entering France's clash with England he had totted up 101 points from four matches.

But just as Spencer was rendered helpless as Australia kept the All Blacks on the back foot, so Michalak sunk without trace in the Sydney deluge. A conversion was all he could manage.

Four years ago, Wilkinson was the rising star of English rugby, promise oozing out of him but the tournament just came too soon.

Now he is match-winner extraordinaire, and Michalak watched on in awe as Wilkinson booted all 24 of England's points to pass the 800 mark in Test rugby.

"One of the things I learnt from him is that he managed to put the points on the board when he had the opportunity," said Michalak, who missed four of his five attempts at goal.

"It was a day for the older players. They have so much experience, they played well and played the conditions perfectly."

It wasn't only Michalak's goal-kicking that was off kilter on Sunday, as his tactical placement was also poor - illustrated by his attempted up and under in the opening minutes.

The wet ball sliced off his boot, went straight up and suddenly France were under pressure. It was the first of many skewed kicks as England applied strangling tactics.

"I did everything I could to continue that hot streak, but it was difficult in the wind and rain and it just didn't work out," he said.

"I have played in terrible conditions and its not really the excuse, but I found it very difficult to react because we had been training all week on hard ground and in hot weather.

"Two hours before the match it tipped it down. I found it very difficult to react."

Retiring captain Fabien Galthie had sympathy for Michalak, who had been the most talked about figure in the lead-up to the game.

"He is not a machine, he is a human. He had a good record in the tournament, but on Sunday it was difficult for him. That is rugby," said Galthie.

England knew just what to do and took the game by the scruff of the neck, helped in no small part by the sin-binning of Christophe Dominici in the first half and Serge Betsen in the second.

Playing 20 minutes of a physical encounter like this a man down was always going to be telling, and England used the advantage to crank up the pressure.

"We just didn't really have a collective response," said Michalak.

"It was a tough match but we weren't really there. We are disappointed, desolate.

"We really felt we had a great team and played some great matches in the World Cup. To leave the main competition in that way is very disappointing, particularly for the older players who won't be around for the next World Cup."

One of those is Galthie, who retires from international rugby as France's most capped scrum-half.

Coach Bernard Laporte on Sunday asked for Galthie to be given an ovation for his services to French rugby.

Galthie has chosen not to play in Thursday's third-place play-off against New Zealand and with France shouldering a couple of injury concerns it could be a very different side that takes on the All Blacks.

"We won't be taking a risk with some of the players that have injuries," said team manager Joe Maso.

"Olivier Milloud is having a scan on his neck. Dominici has twisted his knee so I think its certain he won't be playing and Imanol Harinordoquy has got a problem with his wrist, so basically we will be looking at those injuries to see who plays on Thursday.

"Fabien Galthie has stated he won't be playing. I have great respect and admiration for Fabien as a player and as a man and I won't change his mind. That's Fabien's decision.

"He has also done it in the spirit of the team. Dimitri Yashvili has only played one game, against the United States, so he is giving him a chance to play."