Unwanted All Blacks winger Julian Savea will have a chance to prove his worth next month when he faces his former teammates after being called up for the Barbarians squad playing next week's Test at Twickenham.
The 54-Test winger has been selected for next week's game as well as the following match in a fortnight's time against Tonga.
Savea said all his time and energy is about getting the Lions back in the Premiership division. (Source: Other)
The other Kiwi players donning the black and white strip so far include captain Andy Ellis as well as Mitchell Drummond, Richie Mo'unga, Dominic Bird, Atu Moli and Dillon Hunt.
The game is the All Blacks' first on their five-game Northern Tour, with matches against France, Scotland, Wales and a selected French XV to follow.
The match could be the first step in Savea's journey back to black after Hansen said the door hadn't closed on the 27-year-old despite his non-selection for the tour.
"We're really happy with how he's going but it's a long term plan with Jules," Hansen said of the 27-year-old after naming the squad on Monday.
"He and his wife are due to have a baby shortly so we want him to have a big off season. Those two things combined with us thinking 'stick with the plan and let's have us look at some other people'."
The All Blacks play the Barbarians on Sunday 5 November at 2:30am NZT.
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