All Blacks veteran Jerome Kaino bows out of New Zealand rugby, confident he won't leave too much of a void to fill at international level.
The powerful blindside flanker - a veteran of 83 appearance in the black jersey - will play his 137th Super Rugby game for the Blues and his final on Eden Park this Friday, before leaving for French club Toulouse at the end of the season.
But even after helping New Zealand to two World Cup crowns, Kaino, 35, is in awe of the players clambering to fill a number six jersey that was his for 13 years.
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He missed last year's Rugby Championship with family issues and played his final game for the All Blacks on last year's Northern Hemsiphere tour, lasting barely half of their win over the Barbarians, before subbing off with a knee injury.
Kaino admits he sensed his time in the national team had come to an end and never really challenged for selection for this month's series against France.
"It was tough," he told media on Tuesday. "It was my first June break for a while.
"I really would have liked to push for a position this year and finish up there, but talking to the coaches, unless you're an absolute shoe-in for selection, you've got to earn your stripes every year.
"I knew early on my form wasn't good enough and got my head around that, but around selection time, it was a bit weird."
In his absence, Highlanders duo Liam Squire and Shannon Frizell both pushed their claims for long-term selection on the blindside.
"The excitement I had was seeing the next crop of guys in my position and the freaks that are going to be in that jersey for a long time," said Kaino.
Since announcing his French contract earlier this year, he has tried to keep his mind on the job, but his season has been hampered with injury and another poor performance by the Blues, which currently sit at the bottom of Super Rugby's NZ conference and well out of playoff contention.
"I've tried not to think about [the move], but my wife is looking for houses over there and looking at schools for the kids to go to.
"The family are looking forward to the change and as it gets closer, I've started to think about it and get excited too."
Listing his Blues career highlights, Kaino highlighted last year's victory over the British & Irish Lions, even though he was away on All Blacks duty.
"I really wish a championship in the Blues jersey was among those memories, but it's not to be," he said. "Every time I've been able to run out in the jersey has been special to me.
"It's been hard to pinpoint over the years, but it's not from lack of trying. Everyone at the club has worked hard to get the results, but it's down to the 15 on the field to get consistent performances.
"I don't think I'm in a position to give advice to the coaches. I don't think the coaches need advice, their thinking is in the right place.
"It's more about the players and leaders taking this team and running with it. There are a lot of young guys we call leaders in this group and their voice is quite strong.
"This club is good hands for a long time."
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