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FLATLINING at No.3 in the world is unacceptable for hard-edged Stephen Moore, who said he would not now be Wallabies captain unless convinced a further jump in team attitude could topple the All Blacks from their perch.
Moore's impressive maiden address yesterday was spiked with passion and trophy hunger plus a clear message that misbehaving Wallabies would have no place on the 15-month journey to the World Cup.
"If I didn't think we could (get to No.1) I wouldn't be here. You wouldn't sign up because there's no point staying where we are," Moore said.
"We've got to get better in everything we do because, ultimately, we want to achieve something as a team.
"To get this opportunity to lead is very special. In the same breath I'm not going to get caught up in the romantic side of it, we've got a Test to win against France on Saturday."
Stephen Moore and coach Ewen McKenzie speak to media during the Wallabies captaincy announcement. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
The 91-Test rock of the front-row said the Wallabies had to face up to where they could grab the little improvements that could swing the biggest, tightest Tests.
Stephen Moore at Sanctuary Cove. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Corp Australia
"We've always had that goal but certainly we have been hampered by things like off-field distractions," Moore said.
Last year, hooker Moore spoke out and branded the 4am Burger King night of James O'Connor and Kurtley Beale as "unacceptable" when former coach Robbie Deans dished out no punishment in the middle of the British and Irish Lions Test series.
"We probably didn't put enough emphasis on it being critical to the team's performance. We let standards slip," Moore said in accepting that senior players would take a strong lead on standards too.
The infamous night out in Dublin last November – that saw six Wallabies banned for a Test and another nine reprimanded – showed the tough approach of coach Ewen McKenzie, who has picked a captain cut from the same hardline cloth.
"It (2013) was a tough period, there's no doubt," Moore said.
Stephen Moore runs during a Wallabies training session on the Gold Coast. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
"We had to deal with some off-field issues and that was a real challenge for the group but I think we have started this season with a fresh mentality."
Adam Ashley-Cooper, another 91-Test stalwart, and young NSW flanker Michael Hooper, a Test captain of the future, are Moore's vice-captains.
Moore said he spoke last Sunday to mate James Horwill, captain for 16 Tests until the middle of last year, to tell him of the captaincy call and that he was "an integral part of the team".
Moore's more worldly outlook and self-belief have soared since his Wallabies debut in 2005.
The emotion flowed when Moore fought back tears while saluting his Irish-born mum Maureen, who has backed his rugby since the barefooted Under-8s in the small Queensland gold mining town of Mount Morgan where she worked as a nurse.
McKenzie, a World Cup-winning prop, clearly sees a like-minded figure in Moore, 31.
"What I like is he is a student of the game. He's interested in the detail and, like me, he doesn't suffer losing well and wants to know why," McKenzie said.
"We don't want to just trundle along as No.3 in the world. That's not enough."
Captain Stephen Moore poses with vice-captains Adam Ashley-Cooper (left) and Michael Hooper. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images
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