SYDNEY, 21 November 2003 — New Zealand gained some consolation for their loss to France in the last World Cup by crushing the Europeans 40-13 in yesterday’s third place playoff.

In a result that may have gained their under-fire coach John Mitchell some breathing space, the All Blacks ran in six tries with lock Chris Jack, wings Doug Howlett and Joe Rokocoko, replacement lock Brad Thorn, fullback Mils Muliaina and substitute back-row Marty Holah all crossing the French line.

In what was an entertaining encounter, All Black fly-half Carlos Spencer reveled in the space created for him by his powerful pack in a performance that typified the attacking rugby played by New Zealand all year.

France’s lone try, which helped put them within a point of New Zealand early in the second half, was scored by wing Pepito Elhorga with the rest of their points coming from the boot of impressive scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili in for retired captain Fabien Galthie.

“It was good to see the guys throwing the ball around a bit,” said All Black skipper Reuben Thorne.

“We really wanted to play with the ball tonight and you saw it out there.”

“It was a tough campaign and we didn’t get what we wanted and we were pretty heartbroken about that. But the tournament has been great for rugby all around the world.”

French coach Bernard Laporte said there had been little difference between the teams up to half-time.

“We had the chance to attack the New Zealand line with the score at 14-13. Then there were two tries in ten minutes and the game was lost,” he said.

France had made 13 changes to the starting line-up that lost the semifinal against England 24-7, while the All Blacks retained 13 of the team beaten 22-10 by Australia last weekend.

Australia-born scrum-half Steve Devine replaced Justin Marshall and on the bench prop Carl Hoeft was in for Kees Meeuws.

But it was France, led out by New Zealand-born center Tony Marsh in his first Test against the All Blacks, who had the game’s first chance when, deep inside their own half, Elhorga just failed to intercept Spencer’s pass with a long, but clear run to the line.

And France should have scored in the 10th minute when, after New Zealand were penalized for not staying on their feet, fly-half Gerald Merceron missed a routine goalkick from 25 meters.

Soon afterward New Zealand made France pay in style with the first of two tries before half-time.

Howlett, coming across from his right wing berth, took Spencer’s pass at full tilt down the left flank. He then exchanged passes with Leon MacDonald and from the resulting ruck No. 8 Jerry Collins found Jack who burst through the cover for a well-worked try.

MacDonald converted and New Zealand were 7-0 up in the 12th minute.

Yachvili’s long-range penalty got France on the scoreboard in the 16th minute after Holah was found guilty of obstruction by English referee Chris White.

But generally the All Black forwards were maintaining their discipline and winning the battle up front with France missing too many tackles for comfort.

Meanwhile behind the scrum Spencer was the instigator for New Zealand’s next try, his well-timed pass finding fullback Muliaina charging through at speed on the angle.

He in turn found Howlett who touched down before Carter, on for the injured MacDonald, converted to make it 14-3.

France, after some early grubber-kick inspired forays, were finding it difficult to get into New Zealand’s half but a rare excursion ended with a 34th minute Yachvili snap drop goal that gave the All Blacks a 14-6 interval lead.

However, France hit back at the start of the second half when Yachvili’s kick ahead from a loose pass created a platform that ended with left wing David Bory sending Elhorga in for a try out wide.

Yachvili converted and at 13-14 down France were back in the match.

However, New Zealand turned the tide with two converted tries in as many minutes. Turnover ball saw Spencer break free in a move that ended with Rokocoko touching down under the posts.

And the All Blacks caught France cold when from, a quickly taken lineout, Devine found Howlett who fed Thorn for a smartly-taken try.

Carter again converted and New Zealand were 28-13 up in the 53rd minute before Muliaina capitalized on an overlap out on the right created by All Black forward dominance close to the French posts to score New Zealand’s fifth try.

On a humid night, the All Blacks’ greater strength up front kept France at bay and in the 74th minute, after a lineout, Holah was driven over for a try.