All Blacks stalwart Keven Mealamu has backed hooker rival Stephen Moore to reclaim the Wallabies captaincy for the World Cup, declaring his fierce international opponent deserves another chance to lead Australia.
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But Moore has put any thoughts of captaining his country on the backburner to focus on the ACT Brumbies charge through the Super Rugby season before preparing for his third World Cup campaign.
Mealamu, the most capped player in Super Rugby history, will battle Moore in the Brumbies clash with the Blues at Eden Park on Friday night.
The 36-year-old rake will be injected from the bench to renew his 12-year rivalry with Moore as the pair continues to set the standard for international hookers.
Moore stepped up as Wallabies skipper last year, but injury cut his leadership stint to just five minutes with flanker Michael Hooper taking over for the rest of the season.
Australian coach Michael Cheika will delay naming a captain until the end of the Super Rugby season, but World Cup-winner Mealamu has no doubt Moore can handle the job.
"Steve Moore is a leader, he leads his troops around really well and he's a competitor that you look forward to playing against," Mealamu said.
"I've got a lot of respect for him, he's always there, he's a measuring stick and he's been pretty awesome.
"He would do a great job as the Wallabies captain if they give him that chance again."
Moore and the Brumbies flew to New Zealand on Thursday to prepare for a crucial match in the context of their Super Rugby season.
The Blues have lost all seven matches this year, but are returning to Eden Park for the first time of the season.
Moore was in camp with the Wallabies last week and believes Cheika is laying the foundations for international success.
Moore and Hooper are the obvious candidates to lead the team in a World Cup year, but Moore says speculation about who will be given the job will not become a distraction.
"It's inevitable that the question is going to get asked because of the injury I had last year. It's a tricky one, but of course you'd want to captain your country again," Moore said.
"The team is my priority and I've got full confidence [Cheika] will do what he thinks is best for the team. Whatever my role is in that, I'm fine with. It's not something I'm spending too much time thinking about.
"My priority is doing what's best for the team and filling what role I am given. I just want to be in the team and making sure I'm playing good footy."
Mealamu and Moore share a mutual respect for two amazing careers.
Mealamu has played 166 Super Rugby games and 123 Tests for New Zealand.
Moore has played 138 Super Rugby games and 92 Tests for Australia.
But Blues coach Sir John Kirwan has opted to relegate Mealamu to the bench, instead promoting James Parsons to the No. 2 jersey to take on Moore at the start of the match.
"We are blessed to have two All Black hookers ... Keven is a superb player - strong scrummager, good runner and tackler and a truly great man," Kirwan said.
"The contest at hooker is one of a number of excellent match ups ... these days you need leaders throughout your team - not just your designated captain - so I am sure Stephen will always play an important role for [the Brumbies] and Australia."
The Brumbies sit at the tip of the Australian conference and need to keep winning to stay ahead of the defending champion NSW Waratahs.
The Brumbies cruised to victory against the Free State Cheetahs last weekend, but they failed to capitalise on all of their scoring opportunities.
"We got the ball across the line plenty of times but couldn't finish it off, and it added up. It was a bit frustrating, but we did create a lot of attacking chances," Moore said.
"The opportunities we get this week will be different so we have to be ready for that."
SUPER RUGBY ROUND NINE
Friday: Auckland Blues v ACT Brumbies at Eden Park, 5.30pm (AEST). TV time: Live on Fox Sports 2.
Brumbies team: 15. Robbie Coleman, 14. Joseph Tomane, 13. Henry Speight, 12. Christian Lealiifano, 11. James Dargaville, 10. Matt Toomua, 9. Nic White, 8. Jarrad Butler, 7. David Pocock, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Sam Carter, 4. Blake Enever, 3. Ben Alexander, 2. Stephen Moore, 1. Scott Sio. Reserves: 16. Josh Mann-Rea, 17. Jean-Pierre Smith, 18. Ruan Smith, 19. Jordan Smiler, 20. Ita Vaea, 21. Michael Dowsett, 22. Lausii Taliauli, 23. Nigel Ah Wong.
Blues team: 15. Charles Piutau, 14. Frank Halai, 13. Pita Ahki, 12. George Moala, 11. Melani Nanai, 10. Dan Bowden, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park, 8. Jerome Kaino, 7. Brendon O'Connor, 6. Luke Braid, 5. Patrick Tuipulotu, 4. Josh Bekhuis, 3. Charlie Faumuina, 2. James Parsons, 1. Ofa Tu'ungafasi. Reserves: 16. Keven Mealamu, 17. Sam Prattley, 18. Angus Ta'avao, 19. Hayden Triggs, 20. Steven Luatua, 21. Jamie Booth, 22. Ihaia West, 23. Francis Saili.
