Unwanted Savea to oppose All Blacks

When Steve Hansen told Julian Savea to have ‘‘ a big off-season’’ he may not have had this in mind.

The All Blacks discard - the second highest try scorer in New Zealand test rugby history - will play against Steve Hansen’s team at Twickenham next month.

The 27-year-old, who was dropped for the Rugby Championship and overlooked for the northern hemisphere tour, will line up for the Robbie Deans-coached Barbarians on November 4 and in a second match against Tonga in Limerick.

Savea, who won his last cap in the third test against the British and Irish Lions, will add star appeal to the Twickenham tussle.

The Hurricanes wing, who has played for Wellington in the Mitre 10 Cup while the All Blacks were on test duty, could potentially play against younger brother Ardie Savea, who was named in the All Blacks’ touring party earlier this week.

Savea has scored 46 tries in 54 tests since 2012 - second only to Doug Howlett (49 tries in 62 tests) but has lost his place on the left wing to Auckland whizz kid Rieko Ioane.

He will play for the Barbarians alongside five Kiwis destined to join the All Blacks after the game Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Dominic Bird, Atu Moli and Dillon Hunt. Former All Blacks halfback Andy Ellis is expected to captain the Barbarians.

Hansen said, in naming his touring team on Monday, that Savea hadn’t been thrown on the scrapheap despite the emergence of younger wings outside backs such as Ioane, Damian McKenzie, David Havili and Matt Duffie.

‘‘We’re really happy with how he’s going but it’s a long-term plan with Jules,’’ Hansen said.

‘‘He and his wife are due to have a baby shortly, and we want him to have a big off-season. Those two things left us thinking we’ll stick with the plan and have a look at some other people.

‘‘But Julian has not been thrown on the scrapheap. He has been a great winger for New Zealand, and he has played well for us.’’