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Stephen Moore's stint as Australia captain has come to an end. Facing the media on Thursday in Newcastle, the 34-year-old announced that he will retire from international rugby at the end of 2017.
It is hard to think of a more consistent player for Australia over the last decade or so. Moore's time as a Wallaby goes back to 2005, winning 120 Test caps since his debut off the bench against Samoa.
A move to Munster a couple of years ago never materialised, Moore instead staying in Australia to see out his career in Super Rugby with the Queensland Reds, where it all began for him before enjoying his peak years in Canberra with the Brumbies.
He has always been hard as nails. Yet Moore's true worth as a player and captain may only be really appreciated once he steps away.
Installed as Wallabies captain in 2015 - at the second attempt after a knee injury ruled him out for the whole of 2014 - Moore was originally lined up to take over after Ben Mowen stunned everyone in Australia with his decision to move to France.
Acting as the stabilizer, Australia under Moore's leadership in 2015 won the Rugby Championship, then humiliated England in the group stages of the Rugby World Cup before going on to make the final.
Moore had previously hinted that there was enough in the tank to have a go at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
He has shown admirable honesty in now admitting to himself and his teammates that he will no longer be able to play at his best in two years' time, acknowledging that by the end of next year Michael Cheika will want his likely Rugby World Cup side set in stone.
Two years ago the rushed appointment of Moore in June, followed by the returns of Matt Giteau and Drew Mitchell, were quick-thinking moves ahead of the Rugby World Cup that all paid off. Cheika in this World Cup cycle has time on his side, and a line of hookers ready to take over Moore's mantle.
Tatafu Polota-Nau is no spring chicken at 32 but did get the nod over Moore against Fiji and Scotland in June. Andrew Ready looks a fine prospect, learning off Moore this season at the Reds and primed at the age of 24 to fill the number two shirt long-term. Tolu Latu should not be ruled out either.
Michael Hooper's ascension to the role of Wallaby captain is more interesting. Remarkably just 25 - despite having been around forever - the Waratahs' dismal season has tested Hooper's leadership, a long way removed from guiding the Sydney franchise to a first Super Rugby title in 2014.
Hooper has led Australia before, becoming their youngest captain in 53 years when filling in for the injured Moore in 2014. While an official announcement is yet to be made, should he miss out it would come as a shock.
Hooper's two John Eales Medals from 2013 and 2016, the award given to Australia's best player, and the fact that he has kept David Pocock out of the number seven shirt for the last two years illustrate just how highly he is regarded by both management and teammates.
The timing is also close to perfect. Moore stepping aside to support Hooper for the rest of 2017 gives the openside two years to put his own stamp on the team, with Moore initially on his shoulder for any necessary advice.
“We have a great bunch of developing leaders like Michael (Hooper), Adam (Coleman), Bernard (Foley), Samu (Kerevi), Allan (Alaalatoa). Succession is a really important part of the leadership of any team and we've been working to that end for a number of years and having those discussions for some time," Moore said on Thursday.
“I look around the group now and I see plenty of faces that weren’t even in high school when I made my Wallabies debut, and that is exciting for Australian rugby."
Watching the Australian sides in Super Rugby this year might have largely been on a par with sticking pins in your eyes. Nor should the Wallabies' loss to Scotland in June be forgotten about either.
Yet the timing of Moore's move, even if it marks the beginning of the end for a Wallaby great, feels like a positive step.
Rugby in Australia has no shortage of problems, the most urgent being the need for decision on whether the Western Force or Melbourne Rebels should be cut from Super Rugby.
Finding a successor to Moore as Wallabies captain fortunately is not one of them.
End of Stephen Moore's admirable reign as Wallabies captain feels perfectly timed