Stephen Moore is the real leadingman for our Wallabies, writes Brendan Cannon

STEPHEN Moore should be announced as the new Wallabies leader and take the team through their 2015 World Cup campaign, writes Brendan Cannon.

Stephen Moore is a leading contender to captain the Wallabies.

STEPHEN Moore should be announced as the new Wallabies leader on June 1 and take the team through their 2015 World Cup campaign.

Some might call me biased as a former hooker, but there is Moore and daylight in the race to captain the country.

I think Michael Hooper is a wonderful talent and an able back-up option, but Moore must be given the role for a number of key reasons.

Firstly, Moore has met and defeated the challenge from Tatafu Polota-Nau as the country’s best hooker and must be one of the first chosen in the team. He has been performing at a world-class level for several years and is respected around the globe.

News_Image_File: Stephen Moore is a leading contender to captain the Wallabies.

Secondly, we are 16 months out from the World Cup.

As captain, you will be required to attend after-hours meetings, additional management and sponsorship meetings, you’ll have more media commitments, and you’ll have to worry about your teammates’ confidence and performance as well as your own.

These were factors that James Horwill conceded had affected his form when he was stripped of the Wallabies’ captaincy last year.

You need somebody who can manage that load without their influence on the field being diminished.

Hooper has been a revelation, but at just 22 I think he is better suited to concentrating on his own, free-flowing exuberant approach, and take over the captaincy after the World Cup, because I don’t see Moore remaining in Australia following that tournament.

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There comes a time when a player is just ready.

Moore has endured the experience of being overlooked for the Brumbies’ captaincy for Ben Mowen two years ago when he rightfully would have thought he should have got it.

He nevertheless improved his game and is now one of the best hookers in the world, and he will be better for that experience.

I am aware that in some circles Moore is regarded as a bit gruff, but you won’t find any hooker in the world that should be campaigning for world peace — they’re too busy starting wars of their own on the field.

And I like that about a leader, someone with mongrel.

Moore was one of the only players in the team to publicly rebuke teammates who contributed to the Wallabies’ cultural decline early last year.

That is what you need in a captain — a man with conviction who calls it straight.