Richie McCaw hints at retirement not having much more to achieve after winning everything anyway

He was selected for the All Blacks by John Mitchell on their 2001 end-of-year tour, despite having played only eight minutes of Super 14 rugby, and aged just 20 years old, prompted former All Black great Josh Kronfeld to criticise the selection: "You might as well just give All Black jerseys to everybody. The fact they picked guys off one NPC season is bloody incredible."

By Michael Marnewick

But now this captain and rugby legend has hinted at retiring after the 2015 Rugby World Cup when his team will be seeking back-to-back titles after winning in 2011 for the first time in 24 years.

One of just a few Test centurions, he has amassed an impressive 124 international caps for New Zealand and recently suggested that he will bow out of the game after his fourth consecutive Rugby World Cup appearance.

He will be turning 35 late next year and a slew of injuries and a sabbatical from Super Rugby last year to prolong his career are all indicators that he is in the twilight of a glorious career.

When questioned on whether he would continue playing post 2015, he said: "I would say it would be reasonably unlikely.

"You never know but at the moment just to play next year is not a given any more. I haven't even considered beyond [2015] but I would say it is unlikely."

He made his debut for the Crusaders in 2001, captained the side between 2005 and 2012 and has since played in 122 games for New Zealand's most successful franchise.

He was made captain of the All Blacks in 2006, led the team in the 2007 Rugby World Cup and hung on to the position despite criticism at his side's failure to capture the Webb Ellis Cup. He has remained in the leadership position and finally managed to take his side all the way in the 2011 World Cup.

McCaw's CV is a success story.

He was Headboy of his school, runner-up to the Dux and played in the first team.

His provincial side Canterbury won the NPC (later ITM Cup) five times while he was in the squad and the Crusaders reached nine Super Rugby semi-finals and claimed four titles. Since his debut, the All Blacks have won seven Tri-Nations titles, completed three successful Grand Slam tours and won the Bledisloe Cup eight times.

And if you don't think that's impressive, how about his test record?

Following the 2012 win against the Springboks in Soweto, McCaw became the first rugby union player to win 100 tests – while at the time only having lost 12 games.

While it is too early to be saying goodbye, love him or hate him, you certainly have to respect him.