MOORE PLEASE
WALLABIES warhorse Stephen Moore deserves a grand hometown Brisbane farewell against the All Blacks and any plan to overlook him would be a “dumb” insult.
Cricket great Ian Healy last night said the former Test skipper deserved “to say goodbye walking off the field” at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night after 124 Tests.
Healy spoke from the heart because it’s 18 years since his own 119-Test career was denied a Gabba sign-off in Brisbane when cricket officials backflipped after agreeing he should.
“Rugby must make sure Stephen Moore has the sense of ceremony on the field, not in a media conference, and let the crowd see him off in great fashion,” Healy said.
“The Wallabies value Moore very highly and if you want the fans to cherish such things give them the chance to be emotional about it because they love these moments.
“Don’t be dumb is my advice. When a guy has played 100 Tests and is still dependable he deserves to enjoy the niceties of walking off.
“It’s a no-brainer and I dare say rugby deserves the goodwill.”
At 34, this should be a farewell Test with soul for a pack warrior, not the postscript it would be 16,000km away when he retires with the Test against Scotland in Edinburgh in six weeks.
Healy is fighting for Moore because the long-time hooker’s bench spot for a closing 20minute cameo is under serious threat because of Saturday night’s scenario.
The Wallabies are desperate to topple the Kiwis for the first time since 2015 but the Bledisloe Cup is gone and coach Michael Cheika is zealously advancing Generation Next.
He is weighing up the case to give young hulk Jordan Uelese, 20, his first taste of the world champions to advance the back-up depth behind Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Most recently, Moore was a productive 15-minute finisher with a smart pass in the final try and set piece organisation to sink Argentina in Mendoza.
It’s imperative Queensland fans and his young family get the right chance to salute him on Saturday night.
He played his first rugby barefooted in Mount Morgan, excelled for Brisbane Grammar, first played for the Reds at 20 and has celebrated Suncorp Stadium as a “home ground” for 13 seasons as a Wallaby. Give Moore his moment. The return of utility back Karmichael Hunt to the Wallabies as an influential reserve seems certain for Saturday.