Beauden Barrett is set to captain New Zealand for the first time in next Saturday’s clash with the Barbarians at Twickenham.

Following a gruelling summer, which included the epic series against the British and Irish Lions as well as the Rugby Championship, head coach Steve Hansen has given five of his senior players an extra week off from Test duty.

Captain Kieran Read, Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Sam Whitelock and Sonny Bill Williams will not arrive in London until Friday and won’t face the BaaBaas at England HQ.

Beauden Barrett joined his New Zealand team-mates in settling into their new surroundings

The squad took to the water and enjoyed a boat ride as they burned off the jet lag

In their absence, Barrett has been made tour captain for the week and the mercurial fly-half is frontrunner to lead the All Blacks when Hansen names his startling line-up on Thursday.

‘Beauden’s the vice captain. He’s here so he will drive the team, from a captaincy point of view, this week,’ said Hensen at New Zealand’s team base in Teddington where his squad enjoyed some down time with a boat ride upon arrival.

‘Whether he plays or not, we’ll wait and see. He’s the head leader in the group at the moment on the ground and we’ll pick a captain from the squad we pick.’

‘If he is selected to start and made captain then I don’t think much changes. He’s a driver of the team anyway. He’s played over 50 Test matches now, so he understands what Test rugby is all about.

New Zealand are the world's No 1 team but lost their recent game against Australia

Barrett was hailed for his leadership qualities by Hansen who is resting some senior players

WATCH | The #AllBlacks have arrived in London and got straight into their recovery from the long flight - All Blacks style!#VistaNT pic.twitter.com/17MiiNfWTB — All Blacks (@AllBlacks) October 28, 2017

Hansen also gave his views on Bundee Aki’s call-up to Joe Schmidt’s Ireland squad earlier this week.

The Auckland-born centre left New Zealand to play with Connacht in 2014 and is now eligible for his adopted country under the controversial three-year residency rule.

‘I’m pleased for the guy,’ added Hansen.

‘It’s great, he’s grown into the player we expected him to and I’m sure he’ll add to the Irish team. No doubt at some stage when we play Ireland again he’ll be there. His aim was to play Test rugby and he obviously didn’t think he could do that in New Zealand.

‘At the time, we said we were disappointed because we felt he probably could have but it’s his decision, and he’s been rewarded with selection. I look forward to watching him play.’