Moore led the Wallabies to an unexpected World Cup final berth four years ago, falling short of the ultimate prize but giving Australian fans hope for the future.

Australian rugby has struggled since, both on and off the field, prompting Moore to open up about the state of the game, his hopes for an independent review and giving people a reason to get behind the sport.

The Wallabies struggled through their worst season in 60 years in 2018, slumping to a 4-9 win-loss record as fans grew more frustrated after years of woes.

It sparked calls for coach Michael Cheika to be sacked, although former ACT Brumbies mentor and Wallabies attack coach Stephen Larkham appears to be the man in danger of being axed.

Scott Johnson has been appointed as a director of rugby and will work with Cheika in the hope of resurrecting the Wallabies before the World Cup in Japan at the end of the year.

But Moore's gripe has nothing to do with results. Yes, he wants to see the Wallabies do well. Yes, he hopes of World Cup success. But he says neither are the silver bullet for Australian rugby's problems.

"Given it's a World Cup year it will probably sharpen everyone's focus, the team can certainly galvanise for a World Cup," Moore said.

"But the other thing I feel strongly about is we've been in a cycle for a long time where we're quick to point the finger at a coach or whatever ... we probably haven't had a good enough look under the bonnet of the total organisation.

"Right from the top to the bottom in terms of what our structures look like and pathways and governance ... the things that drive the strategic objectives of the game."

Moore, who played 129 Tests and is a former Brumbies captain, said his criticism come from a place a passion rather than anger.

"We've been reactionary again by bringing in a director of rugby and restructuring things before a World Cup," he said.

"In that sense, I think we're always catching ourselves in a reactionary phase. I don't know how much we're looking up stream at other parts of the organisation and to set ourselves up for success.

"At some point we really have to do an independent, forensic look at the organisation and come up with a way forward."

There are plenty of reasons Australian rugby support has waned in recent years. The Western Force axing debacle, Wallabies woes, declining interest in Super Rugby and intense competition for fans.

There are also good things going on behind the scenes. Rugby Australia is reinvesting in Super Rugby this year to market the competition in the hope of making it more visible, participation numbers are growing and there's a growing groundswell of support.

Rugby Australia conducted an independent cultural review in 2015, but the results were hidden behind closed doors.

"People don't know what is going on, they don't know what the game stands for," Moore said.

"I'm talking about the broader issues in the game. You can do well in a tournament or have a run of wins, but if you want sustained excellence over a period of time it has to be a part of the DNA of your organisation.

"We spend too much time at the top end dealing with things that should have already been solved. Whether that's around skill aquisition, cultural issues - all of that stuff. We need to do more at the front end so that players are armed with the right skills when they get to a Test match.

"Fans are a bit disengaged and rugby has fallen back a bit in people's minds but people are waiting for a cause, something they can jump on to.

"We have to provide that, and the opportunities are there. People want to know what they're buying into."

Off-field behaviour drove a wedge through the Wallabies playing group at the end of last year, leading to Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper being dropped for the last Test of the spring tour.

Rugby's behaviour-related off-field problems are minimal compared to some other sporting codes, but the issues do give an indication of trouble bubbling below the surface.

Moore's hopes the focus turns to implementing strategies at the grassroots level to give players the right tools before they get to professional rugby, rather than trying to teach them when they arrive at the top level.

"Culture and behaviour, we're spending time at that end of the spectrum. Why is that stuff occurring? What's the upstream stuff we need to be addressing to make sure our players, whichever team they're involved in, are desperate, want to be the best in the world and prepare like that," Moore said.

"That doesn't happen often enough, we don't prepare to be the best in the world. We say it, a lot. But it's not always reflected in our actions, and that's cultural and behavioural.

"It's about habits and standing for something. You've got to define what you stand for, what you will and won't accept. Once you do that, it's clear if people fall in or out of that.

"And if they fall out of it, they have to be dealt with in the right way. It starts with schoolboys and underage teams so that when they get the Wallabies team, we shouldn't be teaching people what the right behaviour is."

Rugby Australia released a report last month about injuries sustained in Queensland, which led to a best practice safe rugby framework.

"There was no mention of coaching for the front row ... players need to be coached for certain positions," Moore said.

"Rugby is not like other sports where every player is the same, it's the ultimate gave for all shapes and sizes. WE should be encouraging and coaching them so when they're ready, they're excellent."

Super Rugby is facing an uncertain couple of years as SANZAAR officials considering tinkering with the format again. The Wallabies will have a new coach at the end of the year when Cheika finishes his tenure.

But Moore says we have to look beyond the short-term goals to focus on the bigger picture of Australian rugby.

"I care deeply about the game, I've been so lucky to be involved for so long. But I see a lot of things and wonder, 'is this setting us up to be the best in the world at every level?'," Moore said.

"We need to come up with some fundamental strategies. The best teams in the world are sharpening the pencil for the World Cup and thinking about the next World Cup.

"We're being reactive. We should be looking forward, not who we need to swing in and out at the last minute to be competitive in Japan."