The one thing that All Blacks legend Richie McCaw fears

ALL Blacks captain Richie McCaw has revealed what aspect of rugby union scares him “a little bit” — hint it does not involve facing Quade Cooper at Eden Park.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 15: Richie McCaw (R) and Dan Carter of the All Blacks following The Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the Australian Wallabies at Eden Park on August 15, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

ALL Blacks captain Richie McCaw says the prospect of retirement scares him “a little bit” but he isn’t yet certain he will end his international career after this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The 34-year-old McCaw became the world’s most-capped test rugby player when he made his 142nd appearance for New Zealand in its 41-13 win over Australia on Saturday.

That test was believed to be McCaw’s last for the All Blacks in New Zealand and he is expected to retire after leading New Zealand’s Cup defence in Britain, starting in September.

But McCaw told the New Zealand Herald in an interview published on Wednesday that he hasn’t yet firmly made up his mind to retire.

McCaw said “I haven’t shut the door totally because I wasn’t sure how I’d feel come the end of October.”

“I really wanted to make sure I didn’t get caught up in the ‘It’s your last game here, last game there’ stuff,” he said. “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 said. “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.”

McCaw said his career “was always going to come to an end at some point. 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.”

McCaw has ruled out a career in politics.

New Zealand Prime Minister John Key said on Monday that he will again offer McCaw the knighthood he declined after leading New Zealand to victory at the 2011 World Cup. Key said McCaw would make a great future prime minister.

But McCaw said politics is not for him ... at this stage.

“No, no. I’ve got to say I don’t think that would be for me,” McCaw says. “I’m probably like everyone and have an interest ... from afar.

“I’d hate to get in among that, I reckon. I’m quite happy just watching.”

Originally published as The one thing that All Blacks legend Richie McCaw fears