Forget the individual milestones, the man who ushered Stephen Moore and Matt Giteau into Test rugby says "real greatness" comes with trophies and urged the duo to channel their energy into World Cup glory. Former Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said there was never any doubt Moore and Giteau would etch their names in Australian rugby's record books when they broke into the Test team under his watch.
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Now they are preparing to join an elite list of players who have earned 100 Test caps for Australia, becoming just the seventh and eighth to reach the mark in Wallabies history.
But it's their collective goal of winning the World Cup that can help them join an even more exclusive club and one that will ensure their legacy lives on through time.
Wallabies skipper Moore and Giteau will notch their Test centuries when they run out against Scotland in the World Cup quarter-final at Twickenham on Sunday (Monday morning AEDT).
The men who have gone before them – George Gregan, Nathan Sharpe, Adam Ashley-Cooper, George Smith, Stephen Larkham and David Campese – are united in the belief that they will go down as Wallabies legends.
"But you look at those guys and apart from Gregan, Larkham and Campese, they haven't had a lot of success at the international level," Jones said.
"The real greatness is to have longevity and win trophies. That's the next step, and these two guys have that opportunity. Without a doubt.
"Definitely they deserve to be mentioned among Australia's greatest. But it will be more engraved there if they can take Australia to the final and win it."
The Wallabies have to beat Scotland to keep their World Cup campaign alive and progress to the next stage of the tournament.
With a spot in the semi-finals on the line, Moore and Giteau want their achievement to take a back seat while they focus on winning the trophy they have failed to grasp in three previous attempts.
The Wallabies have not won the World Cup since Gregan and Larkham teamed up in 1999, while Campese was part of the winning team in 1991.
After winning all four games in the pool of death, the Wallabies are perfectly positioned to make their charge into the history books.
No one doubts Moore and Giteau's contribution to Australian rugby in careers that have spanned more than a decade.
"There's no doubt that when you look back over your career, you look at team victories and trophies before you look at personal achievement," said 1999 World Cup-winning captain John Eales.
"At the end of the day 100 caps is a number, and it's an important number. It represents longevity. Never have Matt Giteau or Stephen Moore been passengers in that gold jersey. They've added to it. But they'll have greater pride in their team achievements and this is their chance."
The amount of caps does not define greatness in Australian rugby, with past players finishing their careers in the amateur era with far fewer than 100.
Australia's World Cup-winning captains, Eales and Nick Farr-Jones, both fell short of the century mark, and many other Wallabies did not get an opportunity to reach 100.
But in a ruthless professional era, Moore and Giteau have stood the test of time.
Giteau arrived in 2002 when Jones called the Queanbeyan junior into his squad before he had even played a Super Rugby game.
"He was a 77-kilogram kid, he was a cheeky little bugger. One time he came in and had dyed his eyebrows, and cut them a certain way. We had to pull his head in, but he's matured now," Jones laughed.
Moore made his debut in 2005 and has established himself as one of Australia's most respected leaders as he takes charge of a new generation under coach Michael Cheika.
"Australia hadn't seen a hooker like Steve since Phil Kearns. It took him a while to mature, but he's one of the most consistent players in the world now," Jones said.
The Wallabies have done their best to acknowledge the impending personal achievements without losing focus on their challenge to beat Scotland.
They were dealt a massive blow when Israel Folau and David Pocock were ruled out of the team with injuries on Friday.
But Moore and Giteau's Test ton will add the motivation the players need to advance to the semi-finals.
Larkham said "the best memories are shared memories" and that both definitely deserved their place on a list of Australia's greatest players.
Sharpe agreed, describing Moore as "miles ahead" of any other hooker in world rugby, while Australia's most capped player, Gregan, said the duo had a calming influence on the Wallabies' World Cup bid.
Teammate Ashley-Cooper will pass Smith as the third most-capped Wallaby when he runs out against Scotland.
"We didn't get the result [in my 100th match] and I can't get that back," Ashley-Cooper said. "[Cheika] asked both of the boys to step up and say how they were approaching this week. They said how proud they were to represent their country, but it was more about team success ... They know what feels better."
Flanker Smith said: "It's a huge occasion for the two of them. Their past performances have shown how good they are, they are legends of the game who are still playing."
Wallabies centurions weigh in on Moore and Giteau
GEORGE GREGAN (139 Tests):
"When you're playing you're only focused on the team doing well and I think that's what Moorey and Gits will be doing – making sure the team is prepared first. The word greatness is thrown around a little bit, but if you've played 100 Tests you certainly deserve that."
NATHAN SHARPE (116):
"They're two of the best team men that I've ever played with. This is probably a distraction neither of them want because they know there's more on the line this week. I don't think Gits ever thought he'd get back to Australia to play 100. For Steve Moore, 100 Tests, he's probably one of the most consistent players I've ever played with and that sets him miles apart."
GEORGE SMITH (111):
"It's a huge occasion for the two of them. Their past performances have shown how good they are, they are legends of the game who are still playing. I don't want to put a ranking on it. It takes a special individual to reach 100 Tests, longevity and consistency is key."
ADAM ASHLEY-COOPER (111):
"The 100th milestone is a special achievement, it really is. I remember my 100th and it's a special week. We didn't get the result and that's something I can't get back. They've both experienced individual success and team success, but they know what feels better. They're all about the team before their individual milestones."
STEPHEN LARKHAM (102):
"The best memories are always the shared memories. No one Test match is more important than the other. Definitely they stand amongst the greats of Australian rugby having lasted for so long at the international level."
DAVID CAMPESE (101):
"It's a great achievement, you've got to look at Michael Cheika's influence on the team and thinking outside the box to get Mr Giteau back. Enjoy your 100th, you look like you're enjoying playing. You've got to make the most of it."
