Rugby: Cup exodus fears grow

Selectors are keen to retain Colin Slade when Dan Carter leaves.

New Zealand Rugby officials remain anxious over retaining several star players.

Having seen Charles Piutau make the surprise decision to suddenly quit New Zealand, rugby officials are increasingly nervous about the intentions of Brodie Retallick and Colin Slade.

Both men, as well as Julian Savea and Sam Cane, are yet to say what they will do after the World Cup.

Savea and Cane are believed to be close to announcing that they will be staying in New Zealand until at least 2017.

That outcome is probable with Retallick, too, but the New Zealand Rugby Union are wary. They have been talking for a while ... and still no outcome.

The issue for Retallick is wear and tear and Japan holds appeal as a lucrative means to enjoy low impact rugby for a couple of seasons before resuming test football.

He may only be 23, but Retallick has hammered his body for the past five years.

He was a member of the New Zealand under-20 squad that won the World Cup in 2011 and has played 51 Super Rugby games and 35 tests since 2012. He's a full-noise player and while he's avoided serious injury so far, he has picked up a few dings.

The option of playing in Japan next year hasn't been ruled out. Not everyone will agree, but a season or two in Japan now for an enormous salary, would enable him to bank cash while his star is shining and preserve a body that has probably got a good 10 years in it if carefully managed.

And that's the thing, would it be a sensible play to have an offshore interlude next year instead of, say, after the 2019 World Cup?

Perhaps if Piutau hadn't caught the NZRU on the hop, they wouldn't be so nervous. But what Piutau did was remind them the huge sums of money being offered elsewhere are tempting the next generation of All Blacks. Some of whom clearly believe a test career can be put on hold for the the right price. And part of the nervousness around Retallick is his obvious value to the Chiefs and the All Blacks.

The current World Player of the Year is a colossal force in the game.

He is redefining the position. His athleticism is equal to that of any loose forward and he has the same desire to impose himself as Colin Meads did back in the day.

Retallick and Sam Whitelock are forming a world class partnership that could become one of the great combinations.

Slade has been open about his desire to not be rushed into making a decision.

After a rotten run of luck in 2011 and 2012, when he broke his jaw twice and his leg, he's been one of the fastest and most obvious improvers in the country.

He was fifth choice first-five in August 2013 but if the All Blacks had a test match next week, it's possible Slade would start at No10.

Daniel Carter won't be in New Zealand next year and the All Blacks are particularly keen for Slade to stay as his ability to also play at fullback and goal kick under pressure are invaluable qualities.

He's also mentally tough, resilient and a man with the ability to bring levity and a sense of humour to any squad.

For all that the All Blacks want him to stay, no one can be certain what his future with the national team will look like.

Will he be a regular starter, and if so, in what position? Or is he the sort of player that will be perennially used off the bench?

It is a 23-man game these days ... but players still want to start and when the alternative is a huge contract to be an integral player at an offshore club, the decision isn't easy to make.