Benched Moore confident on Test future

Jun 20, 2017 - 5:31 PM Benched Wallabies skipper Stephen Moore says it's only natural there's doubts around his Test future but has not wavered in his belief he can still make the 2019 World Cup.

Moore remains Australia's 'national captain' but has come off the reserves bench in both of Australia's June internationals so far against Fiji and Scotland, with Michael Hooper officially skippering the side on both occasions.

It is supposedly part of a plan to manage his workload with a view to the World Cup in Japan, when Moore will be 36.

However, it has prompted speculation Moore's time as a Test player might be winding down amid selection pressure from more dynamic, younger hookers like Tolu Latu.

Moore, who is is pushing for a return to the starting line-up for Saturday's clash against Italy, said the talk was nothing new to him.

"I guess that's always the case. It's the national team, so if there's not debate around your position and selection when you're 34 then that's probably a bit unusual," he told AAP.

"I'm not looking at it like that. You operate reasonably short-term when you're at this stage, you just look to the opportunity you get every weekend and how you can contribute.

"That's all I'm really doing. I'm pretty aware of everything that's going on."

Solid if unspectacular in his return Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds, Moore reiterated he is aiming to squeeze at least two more years of Test rugby out of his ageing frame to reach the World Cup.

"Most of the people I've spoken to think I can make it. That's really the people I'm interested in," he said.

"That's my teammates and my coaches and people like that.

"No matter what area you're in there are going to be people who have doubts and that's fine. That's probably something I've had my whole career."

Moore said the Wallabies must focus on getting the "basic stuff" right against the Azzurri, who will be without several of their top-line stars at Suncorp Stadium but remain one of the trickiest opponents in world rugby with their fierce set piece and often wily tactics.

"You look historically, Italy are strong up front, very strong in the scrum - they pride themselves on that part of the game," he said.

"They're a passionate team and I think they've shown this year their ability to think laterally around how they play the game and cause some grief to the opposition in that way."

Source: AAP