Au revoir: The All Blacks greats ending their Test careers

With the dust settling in France after a memorable World Cup, New Zealand rugby bids farewell to another group of greats who have now played their final Tests in the black jersey.

It's another piece of heartache Kiwi fans will have to endure following yesterday's final - the realisation that some of our best are now moving on to the next stage of their lives having given everything to the All Blacks for years.

While the futures of some of our stars are uncertain - the likes of Beauden Barrett, Richie Mo'unga, Shannon Frizell and Leicester Fainga'anuku are taking deals overseas and could possible play again in the black jersey - others who have been in the side just as long, or even longer, have made it well-known this was their last dance.

That painful realisation was already clear to the likes of forwards coach Jason Ryan, who yesterday summarised it perfectly after seeing his men in the changing rooms after the final.

"I just feel for the boys, seeing them in the sheds, taking off the jersey for the last time, it’s tough," Ryan said.

"They’re immortals of the All Blacks and they’re great New Zealanders. I love them. It’s tough for them [but] we move on, don’t we? That’s sport."

Here are the four All Blacks greats definitely moving on after adding to the legacy of the black jersey.

All Black #1117, 90 Tests

Coles is the only All Black who is retiring from rugby altogether now that the World Cup is over but he's got an incredible career to look back on.

The fan favourite made his professional debut in 2007 for Wellington before making his Super Rugby debut two years later with the Hurricanes - a side he would later captain and play 141 matches for across 14 seasons.

Coles finally got his shot at international rugby in 2012 and wasted no time in bringing his skills to the world stage, redefining the hooker position with his pace that often times saw him lurking on the edges, to the dismay of opposition wingers.

With 115 Test points [thanks to 23 tries] he finishes as the fourth-highest All Blacks forward in points scored with Ardie Savea [120], Kieran Read [130] and Richie McCaw [135] the only forwards ahead of him.

He also finishes as the third-highest capped hooker, with his 90 Tests in 11 seasons only bettered by Keven Mealamu [132] and Sean Fitzpatrick [92].

Like many of the others departing, he would go on to win the 2015 Rugby World Cup before feeling the sting of defeat in 2019 and 2023.

Coles told 1News prior to the World Cup his fairy tale finish was knowing he'd done everything each week for the jersey - a fact that hits even harder now after he missed selection for the final but ensured Codie Taylor and Samisoni Taukei'aho were at their best for the Boks.

“If that’s my fairy tale then I can look back and be happy about that.”

All Black #1110, 109 Tests

Where to begin with the world-class Brodie Retallick?

The Rangiora-born lock was the World Rugby Player of the Year in 2014, becoming the youngest to ever win the accolade.

But from the start of his Test career in 2012 until the end in Paris yesterday, he was consistently one of the game's best, performing the core roles of a lock day in and day out while adding the ball handling skills of a back to boot.

Who will forget the sight of the 2.04m tall giant selling a dummy against the Wallabies in 2018 before streaking away to score untouched?

But that's what made him special, and why he became the 12th All Black centurion. Retallick also finishes with a world record for most Test starts by a locking combo alongside Sam Whitelock.

He was also a key member of the 2015 World Cup-winning side and remained so in 2019 and 2023 as well.

Retallick is now headed to Japan to play a second stint with the Kobelco Steelers.

All Black No. 1112, 125 Tests

The void that will be left in the black No.9 jersey with Smith's departure will be felt for some time.

His bullet-like passing, finely-crafted box kicks and leadership in commanding whatever forward pack is in front of him all combined to make him arguably the greatest All Blacks halfback ever.

Having made his Super Rugby debut with his beloved Highlanders in 2011 - who he ended up making a record 185 appearances for - Smith put his hand up for international selection in 2012 amid a tense battle for the starting halfback spot.

But it didn't take Smith long to cement his role and since 2013 he has been the first-choice halfback for the All Blacks. With that he became the team's most-capped halfback and fifth overall.

He also joined the prestigious group of players to captain the All Blacks when he led the side against Fiji at his homeground in Dunedin in 2021 and was also the team's leader in the haka for years.

Smith told 1News after the final he has loved every second of being an All Black.

"The next couple of days will be tough but I will look back with no regrets, I’ve given everything I think I could’ve," he said.

"There’s nothing better than representing your country, wearing the black jersey, and I’ve lived a boyhood dream and it will never be over because whenever the boys play, I can say I’m in that brotherhood.

"I love being an All Black and I always will be and I’m proud of that."

Smith is now headed to Japan to play for Toyota.

All Black No. 1104, 153 Tests

The most-capped All Black and second-most capped player of all time, Sam Whitelock's legacy speaks for itself.

A constant feature of the All Blacks since his Test debut in 2010, Whitelock finishes as a two-time Rugby World Cup winner who has also captained the side on multiple occasions.

While he may be soft-spoken, his play was anything but as his brought his power and agility to every moment of every Test he was in - including that now-famous penalty he won for the All Blacks at the end of this year's quarterfinal against Ireland.

Whitelock's contribution to the black jersey is made all the more special in knowing other family members added to it to with brothers George [All Black No. 1093] and Luke [No. 1129] as well as his grandfather Nelson Dalzell [No. 553] and great-uncle Allan Elsom [No. 538] also New Zealand Test players.

The 35-year-old is now headed to France to play for Pau on a two-year deal, not knowing how many more games left he has but enjoying each one.

"When I do walk away, whenever that is, from rugby completely, it's going to be really hard to replace it because it's been such a big part of my life for such a long time," he told Breakfast earlier this month.

"But I know my wife and my kids are looking forward to me being around a bit more rather than being out and about, off and away.

"So I'm looking forward to that next challenge too."