Improved All Blacks face tough season

"It'll be huge. It'll reinforce to the old guys that you've got to front up each week and do things right," he said today.

"More importantly, for the young fellas, to be in a black jersey and know that you get rewards for working hard in the week and taking that on to the field is massive."

The toil of forwards such as Keven Mealamu, Brad Thorn, Jerome Kaino, Kieran Read and Tanerau Latimer in his first test start ensured the All Blacks dominated possession for the second consecutive week.

Aside from tryscoring second five-eighth Ma'a Nonu's incisive running, there was not a lot to recall fondly from a backline that will want to forget the icy wind and rain.

First five-eighth Stephen Donald failed to impose himself again while veteran winger Joe Rokocoko's test was as erratic as the runaway French rooster which kept the crowd amused for minutes before kickoff.

On the other wing, Cory Jane believed he had scored his first test try, only to be foiled by third match official George Ayoub, who could not see a grounding.

It left Jane to reflect on France's lone try - the spectacular solo run by opposite Cedric Heymans.

Starting with Jane, four defenders barely laid a hand on Heymans during his jinking, swerving 50m sideline dash.

"I ended up getting dusted on the outside - it's not a good feeling," Jane said.

A specialist fullback but used by Henry on the wing, Jane's defensive naivety on the flank was exposed as he forgot to communicate with the defender inside him.

"I just have to talk a little bit more and hopefully I'm hanging around a bit more [selected] and I can get used to winger a little bit more."

French coach Marc Lievremont praised his team, who he said matched the intensity of a week earlier.

He said one key difference was the performance of South African referee Marius Jonker, who did not control the breakdown in the same manner as Irishman George Clancy in Dunedin.

"I didn't always understand the decisions of the referee. I think there is a huge difference between the way referees interpret the rucks in the Top 14 compared to what happens in the southern hemisphere," Lievremont said through a translator.

"Here, people are allowed to do far more when the ball is on the deck compared to the northern hemisphere."

France complete their tour with a one-off test against Australia in Sydney on Saturday.

Meanwhile, more All Blacks reinforcements should be fit for the Italy test, with lock Ali Williams (achilles) and halfback Brendon Leonard (hamstring) likely to have shaken off injury.

However, Donald (hamstring) and hooker Andrew Hore (ribs) are unlikely starters while centre Conrad Smith is "sore" but a good chance to play.