The hardest part for Stephen Larkham about ending his international career was that he didn't get a chance to have an impact on its conclusion.


The 102-test veteran only got to play 60 minutes of rugby in the 2007 World Cup, in Australia's opening 91-3 win over Japan, before he was sidelined with an injured right knee.

He had hoped to come back. But, even after Australia's 12-10 quarterfinal exit to England, he said wasn't sure if he'd have been fit if the Wallabies had advanced to the semifinals.

Right until the end though, he had confidence that his teammates, with old halfback partner George Gregan still out there, would get past England and he'd get another chance to play for Australia.

"I honestly thought we'd come back — work our way into the territory, get a penalty and win the game," he said. "It didn't happen.

And then the final whistle blew. I wasn't too bad. But when I went on the pitch, looking at the faces of a lot of guys and realizing I wouldn't play with them again — it was difficult.

"It was very emotional for me, knowing that I wouldn't play for Australia again."

Larkham made a beeline for Gregan, his teammate at the ACT Brumbies and Australia for more than a decade. Gregan's career was also finished, with a world record 139 test caps.

"After the match, I had to go up and give him a hug," Larkham said. "It was too much for me at the time — I can't even remember what was said."
With the English forwards completely dominating the breakdown, Australia missed Larkham's uncanny knack of squeezing through a gap in the defense or turning the opposition around with an unconventional kick.

Australia scored the only try, Lote Tuqiri's first since June, in the 33rd minute, but went down to four penalty goals from Jonny Wilkinson.

It was Wilkinson's dropped goal in extra time that gave England a 20-17 win over Australia in the 2003 World Cup final and ended Australia's reign as champion.

Four years before that, Larkham and Gregan had central roles in Australia's World Cup title.

Gregan did not want to talk about Saturday's game, saying "now's not really the time for washups, mate."

Larkham had plenty of praise, though, for his longtime teammate.

They played 79 tests together in the No. 9-No. 10 combination after Larkham shifted from fullback to flyhalf at the insistence of former Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen.

"He's been the rock behind my career," the 33-year-old Larkham said. "He was sort of my mentor when I first moved to five-eighth. He coached me through the early years and continued to coach me through the latter years."

Larkham said he needed to make a decision about his future, but thought he'd be playing club rugby somewhere. He hadn't decided, he said, "because there was no real 'Plan B' for this team.

Australia captain Stirling Mortlock said the bitter disappointment of a World Cup quarterfinal loss was that it coincided with the international retirements of Gregan and Larkham.

"Stephen and George have given so much, not just to Australian rugby, but the world of rugby for 14 years," Mortlock said. "For them to bow out in the quarterfinal, everyone involved in our preparation is extremely disappointed for them."