Tana Umaga didn't have to meet the media. In fact, you wouldn't blame him if he didn't meet us again for some considerable time. As captain, he would normally be excused the open day in deference to his Friday "captain's press conference" but show up he did and readily gave a relaxed, thoughtful, relatively revealing 25-minute interview. This was more like the real Tana.

Backed into a corner last week, recalcitrant in his refusal to apologise to Brian O'Driscoll, ironically come kick-off Umaga was the man on a mission of vengeance. How he channelled it though, for in all the furore, Umaga the captain and centre has been immense. After 66 Tests, at 32, bettering all previous speed tests in training, Umaga has arguably never been playing better.

He laughs when you suggest this was partially overlooked in the midst of Dan Carter's brilliant all-round performance. "It helps with the team that we have and with the forwards doing their job. You could have a Rolls Royce back line but it doesn't matter if you've got a mini forward pack. But they've done their job, that makes my job easier and I'm just having a bit of fun out there."

He speaks of the licence they have to express themselves. Heh, at 32 you're meant to be getting slower, not better. You sense he's given a little ribbing about his age.

"It's okay, everybody tells me that every week. I think it's also because the Lions was a big focal point of the 2005 year."

Getting injured during the World Cup, fighting unsuccessfully to overcome a slight hamstring tear during the tournament and then watching his team-mates come up short at the semi-finals again, hardened his desire to have a big hurrah against the Lions.

Centrally involved in the semi-final defeat to France in 1989, and to Australia in 2003, Umaga recounts: "In '99 with 20 minutes to go we thought we had it. In 2003 we really concentrated on South Africa and had a physical battle that maybe we didn't look after ourselves against Australia the next week. Both sides did their homework and attacked us in areas that we didn't think we were weak in. But these coaches are so well prepared it's ridiculous."

He believes the team will also be peaking for the next World Cup, though is non-committal about whether he'll be there. "It's hard to say. I think if I wanted to I probably could. I'm enjoying playing but I've got a young family to think about and I don't want to be watching my children play in a wheelchair when I get older.

"My main motivation was always playing for the All Blacks. I've achieved that a number of times and that's more than a number of people can say. My main motivation is to look after my children."

Umaga, pronounced Oo-mung-ah, is the first All Black captain of Samoan heritage. "It is a big job and it takes a bit of getting used to, but with the other leaders we have, like Richie McCaw, Chris Jack and Aaron Mauger, you're able to spread the load . . .

"Earlier on I made that mistake of thinking I had to be a captain before being a player. You just can't, it detracts from your own game and when you become captain there's even more pressure on you to be the best in your own position. I learnt that pretty hard in the Tri-Nations last year. With that you become a bit freer and these other things will happen."

Although it's a huge honour, he admits: "When I was asked I didn't say yes straight away. I had to go home and mull it over. Because being in the side I knew the extra pressures that came with being the All Black captain. I'd been under Sean Fitzpatrick, Taine Randell, Todd Blackadder, Reuben Thorne and Anton Oliver and sometimes when we lost they took it hard."

Also, he had to ask his wife whether, with three children, he could afford to take on the added responsibility. "We'd obviously be under public scrutiny a bit more, but in the end, when I really thought about it, you can't turn down being All Black captain."

Still one of the gang? "Yes, but you realise you're there for the team and the team comes first before individual players. You've got to make sure you know the culture well and make sure you stick to the values of the team better than anyone else. If they see the captain stuffing up you set a bad precedent. You pretty much have to live that way, but that doesn't bother me, because being one of the older man I've pretty much done what the younger guys are doing now."

Listening to him discuss this theme further makes you realise how onerous a position he holds, perhaps second only to New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark. Then again, perhaps not. Being the father of three children makes him appreciate even more the All Blacks are role models.

He has one boy, Cade, and two girls, Gabrielle and Lilly-Kate. "My son knows who his dad is, but he knows how to read people already, and he knows whether they're genuine to him, or they get to him to get to me, which is sad for an 11-year-old to have to live like that."

Umaga has few recollections of the Lions tour here a dozen years ago, having just returned to rugby union from rugby league, which his brother Michael, has always played, in 1993. "My parents hated me playing rugby league," he admits.

Little could they or he have imagined how it would all have panned out 12 years on. Last week was "difficult", one ventures, the most difficult of his career. "Last week I did want to do all my talking on the field. I did take it a bit personally and I suppose that's all I really want to do. That's where I feel I can speak my loudest and no one can misconstrue what I'm trying to say." Normality has returned this week. "It's been a bit quiet actually."

He speaks of playing for the Dave Gallagher Trophy against France, named after the Ulster-born New Zealand second World War hero, which is very motivational for Kiwis, if not mentioning Alastair Campbell.

"We try to play to that same intensity without having to be that emotionally charged and rely on outside influences to get us up. We want to do that ourselves."

This game will test Umaga and his All Blacks' ability to do that more than last week. But you sense he's quietly happy about that.