Savea’s attitude and form rewarded with Wellington captaincy

After 46 tries in 54 tests, Julian Savea is hardly an insignificant All Black. But you had a hard time convincing him of that, on Friday.

Named captain of Wellington, for Sunday’s provincial clash with Canterbury at Westpac Stadium on Sunday, Savea was obligated to speak to local media for the first time since losing his starting spot in the Hurricanes and ultimately the All Blacks too. The 27-year-old

isn’t in contact with the national selectors and has no idea if he’ll be recalled for the end-of-season tour to Europe.

‘‘I’m pretty sure not too many people really care what I do [or] whether I make the team,’’ Savea said.

Only Doug Howlett, with 49, has scored more test tries for New Zealand. Not many have accumulated their tally in the sort of spectacular fashion Savea has either.

He’s contracted to New Zealand until the end of 2019 and yet, for the time being, appears to be surplus to the All Blacks’ requirements.

‘‘I’m happy doing my thing. If they want to talk to me, they can talk to me. And the same for me; if I want to talk to them, I can talk to them,’’ said Savea.

That hasn’t happened as yet, although he does have clarity about why the Lions are his lot for the time being.

‘‘I won’t go into detail, but I definitely know why I wasn’t picked,’’ he said.

‘‘I just gives you somewhere to go, a goal to work towards. And they’ve actually been pretty helpful in terms of what they want me to work on.’’

Playing on the right wing has been a good move in that direction. Savea shifted to the left to accom- modate former Hurricanes and All Blacks team-mate Cory Jane several years back and kind of got stuck.

‘‘I can use more of everything now, in terms of a step and a fend.’’

It’s ‘‘been a good career on the left’’ but he’d prefer to be on the right for the the Hurricanes next year.

‘‘It’s definitely not my choice [to play left wing] but you’ve got to work together with the coaches and management to see how we can all work things out.’’