In a neat rounding off of a 128-cap career, Stephen Moore, the Australia hooker and former captain, has announced he will be playing his last game of rugby on Saturday at BT Murrayfield, the same stadium where he got his first start and first try 11 years ago.
“That first start was here in Edinburgh in 2006, it was a great occasion,” he recalled. “I have been fortunate to be involved in a lot of big games and you do remember those. It was very new to me, I was pretty nervous.
“I think John Connolly, who was the coach at the time, was going to replace me at half time because the line out had not gone too well in the first half but then we sorted things out and we ended out having a good win. I scored a try so it was a good day all round, my first experience of an atmosphere like that with the noise and the passionate crowd. That is something I have really enjoyed.”
His announcement also provides the Wallabies with even more motivation. The players are already fired up by the drive for revenge after losing to the Scots in Sydney in June and can now add to that the drive to make sure one of their most loyal servants goes out on a high.
“For me personally I just want this team to do well and finish the season well,” said Moore. “You always carry the last result with you, so it is a big game, not for me personally but for this team. It is the last time we are going to play together. Anything that is going to motivate people is good. Whatever works.”
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