'Selfless' Moore gets goodbye Test at home

Oct 19, 2017 - 5:08 AM Stephen Moore wouldn't do it in a million years, so his teammates and coaches have blown his trumpet for him as the "selfless" former Wallabies skipper prepares for his final Test on home soil.

Moore will play his 125th international in Saturday night's third Bledisloe Cup clash with New Zealand at his home venue, Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.

It will be his last in Australia, with the 34-year-old to retire from Test rugby at the end of the year.

But unsurprisingly - given his infamously all-business, no-nonsense approach to the game - Moore was reluctant to indulge in a farewell storyline.

He was, however, excited about playing for the Wallabies in front of his family and friends for the final time.

"You certainly find a few more friends in these kind of weeks," Moore joked on Thursday.

"Everyone comes out of the woodwork.

"It is great to get the opportunity to play at home and I've got a few mates who are going to rock up to the game with my family as well.

"But I really want to keep the focus firmly on the team's performance and the significance of this game for this particular group of players."

It was left to those who knew him best to frame the match in a personal context.

Coach Michael Cheika hailed a man he said was a "quiet leader" who let his actions do the talking.

"The one thing I've noted about him since I've been involved with him in this team is his genuine desire for Australian rugby to be something that the people of the country enjoy and are a part of," he said.

"He's very, very passionate about that.

"He's got an authentic desire to see the game prosper here - not at the expense of any other game. He's a very patriotic Australian."

Halfback Will Genia said Moore had brought true direction and leadership to the Wallabies over the past few years and was key in shaping their identity.

"You've heard him speak - it's all about the team," Genia said.

"It's a great privilege for me to say I've played with someone who's played so many Tests for Australia and will go down as a great of Australian rugby and world rugby as well."

Source: AAP