All Black midfielder Ma'a Nonu has been released for one provincial game over the next fortnight, and he is hoping to make the most of his All Blacks reprieve.

A fractured cheekbone to incumbent number 12, Luke McAlister, means that Nonu will likely regain a starting spot in the All Black team to face the Boks in Ha,milt5oin on September 12.

Nonu scored the only try, coming off the bench, as the All Blacks edged the Wallabies 19-18 in Sydney to retain the Bledisloe Cup and keep their Tri-Nations hopes alive.

Nonu vows to make the most of his release and improve his kicking game after a telling cameo against the Wallabies.

"It was pretty tough but that's rugby, whatever's best for the team and I'm all for it," Nonu told the NZPA

"Lukey's a world class player, with his kicking game he adds another dimension to the backline. It's all the best for the team. Luckily I got on.

"Hopefully I can try and work on my kicking. I've said it before, I can't kick for s..t, but hopefully in the next two weeks I can try and work on it."

Nonu, will likely play for Wellington in Saturday's much-awaited Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury, as All Blacks were released for varying periods.

Wellington teammates Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Rodney So'oialo, Neemia Tialata and Piri Weepu were all among the group cleared for two weekends.

Canterbury coach Rob Penney wasn't so fortunate, with just Wyatt Crockett among the players available for two games.

Richie McCaw and Brad Thorn are free for one game - surely the Shield challenge if Penney gets his way - while Dan Carter and number eight Kieran Read were deemed to be "sore" by All Blacks medical staff and await a decision on their fitness.

Nonu, who featured in his 22nd consecutive Test on Saturday, said he enjoyed the All Blacks' willingness to spread the ball and hoped they could continue to entertain against the kick-focused Springboks in Hamilton.

"We pride ourselves in playing the best rugby we can. We were guilty of not producing the best rugby, especially this year.

"There's room for improvement and hopefully we can move up a gear in the next two tests.

"We just had to play some rugby and we got that try in the end. If we use the ball more, running-wise, we can score a lot more tries."