Wallabies hoping for Moore from captain
STEPHEN Moore’s mortality as a decorated Wallaby has been laid bare ... a bold run at a fourth World Cup at 36 or suddenly running out of legs.
Hooker Moore’s own pack coach Mario Ledesma provided the most honest insight yet with the two forks in the road that Moore’s career can take over the next two years.
Today’s Test against Italy at Suncorp Stadium must produce a resounding statement from captain Moore, his pack and the punts in this Wallabies line-up to shake a better mood into Australian rugby.
No.8 Lopeti Timani needs to deliver some heavyweight shots with his 123kg frame before Jack Dempsey, the reserve flanker with the true boxer’s moniker, makes his debut.
Urgent forwards won’t be rope-a-doped by two-man lineouts, ruck tricks and the chaos tactics of the Italians.
Set the right platform and recalled wing speedster Sefa Naivalu can hunt for the chances infield that Eto Nabuli did not chase against Scotland.
Ledesma played as a hooker for Argentina at a World Cup at 38 so admiration, hope and reality were mixed into his view of Moore reaching 120 Tests today.
“It’s very impressive to play for more than 10 years, especially in the tight five, when you keep performing with everyone getting bigger and stronger,” Ledesma said.
“I admire him as a player, a person and a leader too but the future it’s really hard to say.”
Ledesma motioned at an invisible crystal ball, perhaps the same one that coach Michael Cheika needs to get a hint that today’s performers can rise to tackle the All Blacks on August 19.
“I hope he does get to 2019 but with age you never know when you are going to hit the wall,” Ledesma said.
“I’ve been there ... you have no more legs and everything starts going too quickly for you.”
Ledesma said the greatest energy Moore could get was from Tatafu Polota-Nau, Tolu Latu and the next wave of hookers pushing him.
“I’m waiting for guys to come to push him off, not that I’m wishing that, but we need that depth and he needs that challenge to get to 2019,” Ledesma said.
Timani said he was extremely frustrated watching last weekend’s tumble to Scotland from the sidelines when he felt his direct style could have helped.
“We needed someone like myself to bend the line in mid- field,” Timani said. “When I get my chance I’ll make sure I bring that physicality, aggression, ball-carrying, big tackles, make a difference.”
That will be music to Cheika’s ears as will Rob Horne’s relish for the gold jersey he never thought he’d wear again in the centre position he hasn’t started in for five years.
The shadow of the All Blacks on August 19 in Sydney will be over the Wallabies’ effort today.
“Every time you play for the Wallabies it’s relevant and we’re trying to put in place things that set us up to play well against the best team in the world,” Horne said.