Pocock, 28, featured in his last match for the Wallabies on Saturday until at least mid-2018 due to an arrangement organised in conjunction with the ARU that affords the back-rower some time off to freshen up mentally and physically.

He will leave for a stint in Japan immediately after the Wallabies' spring tour, but from the end of January until August Pocock plans to base himself in Southern Africa, most likely Zimbabwe.

A part of Pocock is worried he might have the time of his life and never return, but he says he will back himself to rejoin Australian rugby in the year before the next World Cup.

"I think I'm someone who throws everything they've got into what they're doing," Pocock says. "I don't want to get ahead of myself about the next World Cup, that's why I've signed til 2019. I've loved being part of this team.

"A part of me was a bit concerned how I'm going to handle it, but we'll see how we go. It just seems like a long time to be totally away from the game and then come back. You have to back yourself, so I'm sure I'll be right."

Pocock has revealed he thought by the time he turned 28 he would be finished with rugby.

However, a number of serious knee injuries in recent years prompted the Brumbies back-rower to reconsider an early retirement.

"I probably didn't think that I'd play beyond 28," Pocock says. "In my head, 10 years was always a pretty good chunk of time and then I figured it'd be good to move on. I don't know why I thought that. Having the two years out injured and then getting back into it last year, I've really enjoying being part of this Wallabies set-up.

"I'm really keen to get to this World Cup and be playing really good rugby then. Having some time off next year was in my mind the way to do it, to freshen up physically and mentally and then back myself to get back into some form."

Pocock has left his calendar relatively free in Africa but has a few activities in mind.

He will do some courses with conservation group Wild Ark, spend a week at Kruger National Park, another seven days in Botswana, as well as help his 80-year-old grandfather – who he describes as a "tough old bastard" – on his land.

"There's a lot of stuff outside of rugby I'm keen to explore," Pocock says. "I'm just going into next year with an open mind and it'd be a real treat not having that pre-season just looming like most holidays when you get two weeks of nothing and then you have to do fitness again."

It should be remembered Pocock will not be completely out of shape when he returns for the Brumbies in 2018 with two seasons of Japanese rugby under his belt.

For a player so respected throughout the world for his skills as a ruthless over-the-ball back-rower, Pocock says there is still plenty he wants to achieve before he hangs up the boots.

"I've really enjoyed the last two years with the Wallabies under Cheik [coach Michael Cheika] and I feel like there's plenty more for me to learn as a player, as a teammate, as a leader," Pocock says. "[I'm] keen to improve in all those areas.

"I feel incredibly lucky and privileged to have the opportunities that I've had because my family was able to move to Australia and many people didn't have those opportunities. I've tried to make the most of them but I certainly think that with privilege comes responsibility and all those things are things I'm into give me energy."

What about after footy though, when the knees and back eventually fail?

He admits his lack of set retirement plan is a "bit of a worry" but one gets the feeling a man with so many interests won't find it hard to land his dream gig.

"[I'm] certainly not getting ahead of myself," Pocock says. "I'm keen to explore and see where it leads. I certainly don't have the answers, but hopefully next year I meet some interesting people."