Nonu did not elaborate on whether that was a reflection of Jamie Joseph's outfit in Dunedin, who have won only two games all season, or whether it was simply a change of environment that was helping.
After stints at the Hurricanes, Blues and now the Highlanders, Nonu's future will remain the subject of great scrutiny, which is partly why he likes being in the All Black environment. He can be just a cog in the wheel.
Nonu, who has played 77 tests for the All Blacks, paid credit to an excellent France defence which kept his side tryless in the second half.
He said his midfield opposites Wesley Fofona and Florian Fritz played well, the pair taking advantage of Nonu's collision with Cane to score France's try. He also noted that 122kg Mathieu Bastereaud was still to come for France.
Nonu said his fitness needed work and suggested his knee was not 100 per cent right. One of the biggest factors in performing, though, was the mental side of the game.
"You have to keep improving year in, year out," he said. "I'm the first to admit it. The older you are the harder it gets."
