Argentina scrum half Agustin Pichot has announced he has retired from international rugby with immediate effect.However, he has made no secret of the fact that he no longer has the mental or physical stamina to cope with the international game and will therefore hang up his boots prior to next month's Test in South Africa.
"This week, I spoke to my wife and family and decided I would not play against South Africa," he explained. "I am not in the right physical or psychological state to face this game.
"I spoke to Tati (coach Santiago Phelan) and we agreed that to play for the national team you have to be 100 percent. If not, you're no use.
"I thought it would be disrespectful to the shirt to carry on. I felt that something was missing, that I wasn't right. I would have been letting myself, my family and the lads down."
