Wednesday 19 August 2015 11:58, UK
Richie McCaw says the prospect of retirement scares him and has deferred a decision on whether to quit international rugby after the World Cup.
The 34-year-old All Blacks captain became the world's most-capped Test rugby player when he made his 142nd appearance for New Zealand in their 41-13 win over Australia on Saturday.
That Test was believed to be McCaw's last on home soil and he was expected to retire after leading New Zealand's World Cup defence in Britain, starting in September.
But McCaw told the New Zealand Herald he has not firmly made up his mind to relinquish the famous black jersey.
"I haven't shut the door totally because I wasn't sure how I'd feel come the end of October," he said.
There's no doubt when you start having to watch a few games, I'll miss it like hell
"I really wanted to make sure I didn't get caught up in the 'it's your last game here, last game there' stuff.
"The door is open a little bit but I just want to concentrate on what I'm doing now and get a bit of separation after the World Cup."
McCaw said that after playing international rugby since 2001, "part of (retiring) scares you a little bit."
"I've done the same thing for so many years," he added. "To all of a sudden be having to figure out something else to do is a bit daunting.
"Conversely, a lot of people at this age change careers. It's a big decision that they don't have to make, but they choose to. The only difference is it comes to us whether we want to or not."
The flanker admits that when he does retire it will be tough being left with just a watching brief when the All Blacks are in action.
"It was always going to come to an end at some point," said McCaw. "When that comes there'll be something else I'm sure, it's a bit of a double-edged one really.
"There's no doubt when you start having to watch a few games, I'll miss it like hell."
