Mitchell - seeking winning farewell. (Getty Images)

By Alex Lowe, PA Sport, Coffs Harbour

New Zealand coach John Mitchell on Tuesday outlined his intentions to end the All Blacks' Rugby World Cup campaign on a winning note by naming a full-strength side for the third place play-off.

But his opposite number Bernard Laporte, hamstrung by a set of players mentally and physically exhausted from their semi-final defeat to England, has taken the long-term view.

France have made 13 changes for Thursday night's clash in Sydney, with centre Tony Marsh and prop Sylvain Marconnet the only survivors from the 24-7 defeat at the weekend.

"It's very difficult to get back after such a tough game, all of our guys are mentally exhausted," said France coach Laporte.

"The guys that have been picked are very fresh and ready to go and they are all mainly young players with the strong possibility of playing in the 2007 World Cup."

The French were always going to be without captain Fabien Galthie, who decided he would rather his final rugby match be a World Cup semi-final than the much-maligned play-off.

Olivier Milloud was ruled out with a neck injury, Christophe Dominici twisted his knee and flanker Serge Betsen faces a judiciary hearing tomorrow night into an alleged kick at an England players.

The French side will be captained by hooker Yannick Bru and features Dimitri Yachvili at scrum-half for only his second start of the tournament.

Team manager Joe Maso attempted to put a positive spin on the announcements, stressing France were now casting their minds forward to the 2007 World Cup on home soil.

"It's a fresh team, they are ready," he declared.

"They will be out to win because we have had a very positive World Cup.

"The image of the French both on and off the field has been positive and we hope that there won't be two consecutive defeats to sully the tail end of the World Cup.

"This French team not only represents the XV for this match, but also represents the medium and long-term future of French rugby."

Frederic Michalak will start from the bench after suffering in the torrential Sydney rain on Sunday, with Gerald Merceron to start at fly-half.

He will oppose Carlos Spencer, who has begun every one of New Zealand's World Cup games this year.

The only change Mitchell to the starting XV made was at scrum-half, where Australian-born Steve Devine will start ahead of Byron Kelleher, while Carl Hoeft comes on to the bench for Kees Meeuws.

Mitchell is attempting to go one better than at the last World Cup, where John Hart lost to South Africa in the play-off and resigned the following morning.

"It's important because there is something to salvage for us as a group," said Mitchell, whose side was on Tuesday voted team of the year at the International Rugby Players Association awards.

"For the international teams, it's an opportunity for them to finish their international program on a high.

"We've put the defeat behind us. We have to - this is another Test match, a Test match against France and we have to deal with that.

"Our focus is on that now, but naturally the surroundings are a bit more difficult than usual and that's the challenge that faces us.

"A Test selection should never be taken for granted because you never know when the next one is around the corner."

Teams:

New Zealand: Muliaina; Howlett, MacDonald, Mauger, Rokocoko; Spencer, Devine; Hewett, Mealamu, Somerville, Jack, Williams, Thorne (Capt), McCaw, Collins.

Replacements: Hammett, Hoeft, Thorn, Holah, Kelleher, Carter, Ralph.

France: Poitrenaud; Elhorga, Marsh, Traille, Rory; Merceron, Yachvili; Marconnt, Bru (Capt), Poux, Auradou, Privat, Tabacco, Chabal, Labit.

Replacements: Ibanez, Crenca, Pelous, Magne, Michalak, Liebenberg, Brusque.