They struggled to assert their authority in the second spell as errors crept into their game - 20 in total - but they defended well as the French produced their best performance of the tournament.
Fullback Sam Tomkins finished the game, his final one in Wigan for some time before joining the Warriors, in the sin bin and might have been a sentimental choice as man of the match ahead of prop James Graham.
England have a big forward pack capable of matching New Zealand's power game, one of the best fullbacks in the world in Tomkins, unpredictability in five-eighth Rangi Chase and good finishers in Chamley and Hall. New Zealand, though, possess natural ball players across the park who will trouble England.
Neither side have come under much pressure in this tournament - for England, certainly not since their defeat to Australia - and the stakes are about to go up several notches.
