Richie McCaw has said that being both mentally and physically 100 per cent to continue playing Test rugby was key in his decision to rest for six months.
New Zealand's captain, who has 110 caps for his country and a RWC winners medal in his locker, will miss most of Super Rugby and June's Tests.
And he said that the overloaded schedule was a big reason why he chose to take a break from the game at the end of the November internationals.
"A lot of guys look at the calendar now and depending on where you are in your career think how you're going to deal with it. There's a lot of rugby these days," he told Fairfax Media.
"From my point of view I knew if I carried on relentlessly for the next couple of years without having this break then I'd probably get to the point where mentally, more than anything, you've just had enough. I didn't want that to be the case."
McCaw apparently discussed his playing future with Crusaders head coach Todd Blackadder as they looked at how best to manage the flank's final playing years.
"I just think this is the right time. Toddy and I sat down and tried to map out how the next few years would look," he continued.
"The big thing I want to make sure is there is not a perception I'm just hanging in there and just being around for the sake of it. I still want to do it right and having that break is going to hopefully invigorate the next couple of years.
"I'm pretty keen to play as long as I can especially for the All Blacks, and in New Zealand; the break will hopefully allow me to play a bit longer.
"Part of it is physical, but it's also mental. Over the years I've never really had more than a couple of months off unless it's been injury-related so to be able to take a break, reassess and then play whatever time I've got left is a good opportunity."
Comments
georgesmith says...
Long live the greatest cheater/ con-artist ever. R. McCheat is the best when it comes to cheating. Play fair and win fair. Be a good sport and not a cheater.
Posted 14:14 02nd October 2012
Ferdie says...
Kiwidiver - injury breaks as holidays? almost 400 first-class matches since he started playing for Canterbury way back in 1999 - no real holiday since. While some other players take sabbaticals to play overseas, he wants, and deserves, a break from all rugby. Good on him. Maybe he'll retire early - up to him, the rugby public don't own him - much as some think they do.
Posted 13:12 29th September 2012
APV1 says...
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
Posted 10:31 28th September 2012
Kiwidiver says...
This is a mistake. The guy will turn 32 this year, he's finally showing some of his previous form, and is THE In-form Openside in the world right now. How many more years does he think he's got at this level????
No one wants him to start hating the game, but Mental Exhaustion?!? How can that be?? He's missed the majority of the last two Super Rugby seasons due to injury - how about putting in a full year of rugby, then making some kind of assessment???
If he does this, the best he can expect when he has "recuperated" are short cameos. International teams wait for no man - they have to evolve and invest in their new players. If he was making this decision in order to go make some Yen, Euros, or Stirling while he is still in top form - that is a decision we would all have to respect. How many players that have a leave of absence ever truly come back to full time duties?!? It's sad, but I think the same fate awaits the likes of Kaino and SBW. Maybe Sonny can make a come back due to his age, but the others.....thanks for your contributions, but see ya....
There are other, better ways to phase in new players/leaders. I believe a break at this time will have the opposite effect to what he is proposing - either your head is in the game or it is not, and NO ONE comes off of a lengthy break fully prepared for test rugby, or even Super Rugby.
For the first time since posting on PR, I truly hope that I am in the same situation as APV - deluded and wrong!!
Posted 19:40 27th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ new_j4a - calm your fears, my Justice-seeking pal. Richie is almost quite reasonable on a good day and I'll accept that he can play a ref better then some.
I've petitioned UNESCO about his current standing, and the application is currently "On hold, pending allegations of foul play and / or Saintedness." whatever that means.
Thankfully the 4N is back on this weekend and normal service shall resume there-after.
Posted 10:23 27th September 2012
new_j4a says...
APV, I apprecite the humour, but worried a bit when you gored the sacred cow....the man is walking World Heritage Site and will be on the top 10 rugby players list for a thousand years...(Hyperbole maybe, but the man is one of the greats)
Posted 04:55 27th September 2012
Carpelone says...
Perfidious rosbif....
Back to McCaw's sabbatical, it is reasonable, clever I would say. Recently, evidence was collected that freshness and fitness rather than skills and abilities win matches (see the HC, although I am not implying that Leinster are devoid of skills and rugby fine competencies). So, it is clever to manage your best players, so that the chance to have them around when you most need them is increased.
Posted 17:56 26th September 2012
APV1 says...
(@ heart_of_oak - Fear not. I am absolutely just having a laugh...)
Anything to do with SH rugby is, in my opinion (i.e. the only one that actually matters), mediocre. And I have said so on many "XV of the Week" threads for some time now.
And I shall continue to claim (and proclaim) as much until Mr Ellis' cup is back on Hallowed Ground - Twickenham - and we can all accept it is true again.
Posted 17:16 26th September 2012
Rosbif says...
APV, maybe next time you should draw a cartoon, or make a little film. fanatics tend to like that stuff.....
(meanwhile, we french will content ourselves with taking photos of your royal boobs - how to win friends and influence people, eh? let me count the ways....)
:-)
Posted 16:36 26th September 2012
heart_of_oak says...
APV1 - you are taking the mickey, aren't you ? Maybe the postings of a certain moron have unbalanced you a bit 'cos normally you're more realistic than this. I'm a proud Englishman, but...
1. McCaw is a fantastic player and lets all acknowledge that. Lets not descend to stupid levels, slagging people off because of their nationality. Credit where it's due - he's got to be one of the best players of the last decade.
2. As for England, I think we're getting better under SL but we're some way behind NZ and probably the Boks. At the moment, we can give most other NH teams a good run for their money. But that's all I'd be prepared to say for the moment. Australia seem to be having a few problems at the moment but in their own back yard, I'd take them to beat us, whereas in England, right now, I think I'd favour us - but only slightly.
Posted 16:00 26th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ Mace - I hope I'm still able to post nonsense on here in 2015, especially when we take back what's rightfully ours!
@ Rosbif - too late.
@ new_j4a - I can't imagine what you mean. All I was saying is that he's undoubtedly mentally exhausted and deserved a break. Honest, Guv!
(And I was missing the 4N XV of the Week thread, so had to improvise)
Posted 11:24 26th September 2012
three6three6 says...
This is probably a good idea. Richie McCaw's recent performances have been anything but medocre..... He is still an inspirational leader who is playing at the top of his game. Sam Cane can step into the no. 7 role (with Matt Todd as back up) and also for someone like Kieran Read to gain experience as captain.
This provides an opportunity for a formal trial run of any proposed succession plans! It can only be good for New Zealand rugby.....
Posted 05:25 26th September 2012
new_j4a says...
APV, Have you gone back to the whiskey? Even as the NH's foremost Windup Merchant, this one takes the biscuit and puts you solidly in position to challenge Trinats for the "World's Greatest Bullshitter" title.
Posted 04:32 26th September 2012
Tamjon says...
McCaw is right, there is too much rugby played by elite players each year. Those at the top seem to acknowledge it, right before adding to an already long season. Something needs to be done allow these players to have a proper rest each year.
Posted 01:40 26th September 2012
Trader2 says...
APV1
You have way too much time on your hands
Posted 01:27 26th September 2012
kpe12 says...
Best
In
The
World!
Posted 23:44 25th September 2012
Rosbif says...
tread carefully there APV1, you don't want a NZ fatwa on your head....
Posted 21:47 25th September 2012
jmanngod says...
the greatest player of all time will continue. Great news!
Posted 21:03 25th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Mediocre
Cantabrian
Cant
Accept
Wretirement
Posted 19:48 25th September 2012
Mace says...
Words spoken of a TRUE CHAMPION!!! And there will be still clowns like APV1 posting their childish posts on here when we defend the Webb Ellis Cup in 2015!!!!
Posted 18:40 25th September 2012