Now, 13 years on and as the Wallabies captain, Moore still regards Loftus Versfeld Stadium as a special ground, but is fully aware of the hostile reception his men will face as they look to stamp their authority on second place in the Rugby Championship.

Moore, 33, made his Super 12 debut for the Reds against the Bulls, coming off the bench with about 20 minutes to go as a "really nervous", wide-eyed hooker.

Queensland went down 39-19 in a match that was Toutai Kefu's 100th game for the Reds and one Moore remembers vividly.

"I remember not wanting the ball to go out so I didn't have to throw a lineout," Moore said. "I was really nervous. They were a powerhouse team. The likes of Joost van der Westhuizen [were playing]. He was the halfback and I had watched him play for South Africa.

"That's always a special place for me to play and I think over the years anytime you win a Test in South Africa it's special. You're always up against it. It's a great place to play rugby but as a visiting side you certainly feel that hostility and there's no doubt it will be like that at Loftus on Saturday. We will really enjoy this opportunity."

Moore has won three matches from 10 attempts in South Africa. Two victories have come in Durban (2008 and 2011) but the most memorable was in Bloemfontein in six years ago when Kurtley Beale nailed a penalty goal with the last kick of the match from 55 metres out to give the Wallabies a famous 41-39 victory, their first at altitude for 47 years.

Although the Springboks have fallen back to fourth on the world rankings - behind New Zealand, England and Australia - after defeats to the Pumas and Wallabies in this year's Rugby Championship, Moore knows they will be far from easy beats at home.

"They would have come under some heat in the last few weeks with their recent results and they're going to want to play well," Moore said.

"They're one of those teams that you know are always going to play well at home. They've got very passionate home support there and particularly at Loftus. It's a strong rugby tradition there and very hostile environment there. To play, whether it's Super Rugby against the Bulls or in a Test match, we'd expect them to play very well.

"I know we've had a couple of wins but that certainly doesn't change anything from our perspective … we want to go over and give a good account of ourselves."

The South Africa clash marks the first of eight away games for the Wallabies to round out a year of 15 Tests.

After Pretoria, Australia travel to London to face Argentina before returning to Sydney. Then it's a quick four-day assignment to try and restore credibility in a third and final Bledisloe Cup dead rubber before embarking on a Spring Tour against Wales, Scotland, France, Ireland and England.

Moore said time on the road would be good for the group, as was the case at last year's World Cup.

"You spend a lot of time together in hotels and doing things together, going for meals. We've benefited a lot from that in the last 12 months," Moore said. "When you're in Australia you try and create the same environment but it's not always the same because guys have other things on and it's nice to get away when everyone's in the same boat."

Coach Michael Cheika echoed Moore's belief that touring was positive for the team while also identifying a number of players who would make time on the road more enjoyable.

"I've seen a few guitars travelling... Henry [Speight] and Tevita [Kuridrani] usually orchestrate the band," Cheika said. "We've lost Drew [Mitchell] who is probably our resident larrikin but I think Sean McMahon and Bernard Foley ... there's a few tricksters out there. Nick Phipps too.

"There's a really good balance and I want those guys to have their character. The game is one thing - and it's the most important thing - but the balance that you have around that will make you play better too so it's a great chance for us now when we're away a bit to enjoy each other's company."