New Zealand legend Richie McCaw admits the prospect of equalling Sir Colin Meads’ All Blacks appearance record has taken a while to sink in.
When McCaw leads the Kiwis out against Argentina in the Rugby Championship this weekend, he will equal former flanker Meads’ 133 games for his country.
His 13-year international career to date includes the All Blacks’ clean sweep of the British & Irish Lions in 2005.
And while it remains to be seen whether the 33-year-old will stay on for the Lions’ tour in 2017, he is set on ensuring his performance levels remain as high as ever.
“It’s hard to really get your head around, but I just hope the 133rd game you play as well as you did in some of the earlier ones,” said the flanker, whose side need a bonus-point win over Argentina to retain the Rugby Championship.
“If I can do that I'll be pretty happy.
“It is a lot when you think about it like that and you add in Super Rugby games. That's a fair bit of rugby.
“I haven't got too carried away thinking about it. It's a cool achievement to equal Sir Colin but if you get worried about that you forget what you've got to do every time you go on to the field.
“I've always been big on making sure each time you go on the field you perform. I still enjoy it as much as I started. That's why you keep going for as many as you do."
