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Durban - Springbok captain Adriaan Strauss has no regrets over his decision to retire from international rugby at the end of the year.
Still just 30-years-old, Strauss shocked the rugby world when he announced midway through the Rugby Championship that he would not represent the Boks beyond 2016.
It was a strange decision given that Strauss was seemingly in his prime - finally a regular starter in the absence of Bismarck du Plessis and coach Allister Coetzee's new captain.
There is no doubt that the Boks have struggled under Coetzee, but Strauss has left it all out on the field each time and has led with passion.
He is back in form, too, with his lineout work still some of the best in the game while he turned out a man of the match performance against the Wallabies last weekend.
It certainly seems like Strauss still has a lot to offer, but he says there is no chance of a turn around.
As a result, Strauss will play his last Test on South African soil when the Boks take on the All Blacks in Durban on Saturday.
As expected, Strauss was trying his best not to make the match about him.
"I'm not emotional at all," Strauss told media in Durban.
"It's all about playing the All Blacks ... the best team in the world. All the focus and energy is there and there is no time for emotion or reflecting.
"My personality is task-driven ... I think once the final whistle goes there will be a release and then the emotions take over."
Strauss will still be available for the Boks on the end of year tour to the northern hemisphere, but his Bok duty on these shores is almost done.
Looking back on his decision, Strauss has no regrets.
"I never thought I would get the chance to play for the Springboks, let alone be sitting here at this captain’s conference," he said.
"I've made the right decision. I would have liked to hang in there for as long as I could ... but I believe in the long term this is the right decision for the team and I'm very happy with my decision.
"A couple reasons ... but maybe I'll speak to you about that afterwards."
Teams:
South Africa
15 Pat Lambie, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Vincent Koch, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Tendai Mtawarira
Substitutes: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Julian Redelinghuys, 19 Lood de Jager, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Jaco Kriel, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Willie le Roux
New Zealand
15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Matt Todd, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody
Substitutes: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 George Moala
