This week Agustín 'Gus' Pichot announced his retirement from international rugby, nine months after leading the Pumas to a third place finish at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, which also saw them rise to an all-time high of third in the IRB World Rankings. Total Rugby's South American correspondent Frankie Deges spoke exclusively with Pichot at home in Buenos Aires.

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Pichot fact file:
- Agustín Pichot, born 22 August 1974, Buenos Aires
- 63 tests for Argentina
- Puma debut April 1995 versus Australia in Brisbane
- Final test match a 34-10 victory against France on 19 October 2007 to finish third at the 2007 RWC
- First captained Argentina versus Ireland, June 2000. Argentina won 34-23
- Argentina player most selected by the Barbarians
- Played Sevens for Argentina 1994 - 2002

Pichot, on calling time on his career 

"I didn't want to close the door immediately after the World Cup because I thought that I had to take some time to digest what I really needed and what I was feeling at that time.

"The intensity that I gave and the time that I spent in the function of the team didn't allow me to take that decision immediately, I needed to rest, I needed to be in touch with my inner thoughts and that's what I've done in these six, seven months.

"I had the decision taken and then this South Africa game came up, and I thought it could be a wonderful opportuniTy to celebrate Nelson Mandela's birthday - I think he's one of the most important political figures - but my body wasn't right, I wasn't 100 per cent and my whole career I've fought with professional rugby not to play for your country if you are not 100 per cent, so the decision was quite easy in that aspect."

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On being called a great

"I never believed it when they said that I was one of the best scrum halves in the world.

"I was compared at that time with Joost (van der Westhuizen), with George (Gregan), with Justin (Marshall) or then the new Springbok scrum half (Fourie du Preez) and the other ones coming through.

"Being named into those top one or two, when you were playing with a team that wasn't being recognised, that was something that I really had to work a lot for, and trying then to be one of the best in the world as a team, not as an individual.

"If you asked me today what was better, to be named scrum half of the year in 1999, when we had a good World Cup, or finishing third in the world as a team at the 2007 World Cup, I would say last year when I was the captain of one of the best teams in the World."

Also in this week's exclusive interview on Total Rugby Radio..

- Gus's highlights of 15 years at the top of the game
- Gus's plans for the future

LISTEN TO PICHOT ON TOTAL RUGBY >>