Going, going, gone... secret bid that sealed Nucifora deal

By WYNNE GRAY

In the early stages of this season's Super 12, Brumbies' coach David Nucifora attended a charity evening in Canberra where he auctioned a range of stock.

Nucifora was impressive, and during the evening several people quizzed him about his performance. He revealed he had trained as an auctioneer and valuer.

"You never know what rugby coaching throws at you so I like to keep my hand in," he said.

It was a prophetic observation. A short time later, Nucifora got the order of the boot from the Brumbies.

That verdict was as covert as the mission to hire Nucifora as technical analyst for the Blues next season and high-performance manager for the Auckland Rugby Union.

Once Nucifora decided he was interested, he flew to New Zealand, where interviews were held in secret. There was real apprehension among officials that any leak about Nucifora's interest would provoke an Australian counterstrike.

Nucifora also admitted he had been tempted to bide his time for the likely approval of a fourth Australian side when the Sanzar deal is rolled over in 2006.

Auckland and the Blues had a variety of motives in tracking Nucifora. He took the Brumbies to one title and two other playoffs in his three years with that franchise, and the Blues wanted a third coach to assist Peter Sloane and his backline co-ordinator. They had dipped this season when they decided to stick with Sloane and Bruce Robertson after Graham Henry's elevation to the All Blacks.

They were also keen to tap into different ideas, to see if they could adapt some strategies which had given Australia the reputation as one of the smarter sides in world rugby.

Nucifora downplayed the notion he would be bringing the Brumbies' intellectual property with him.

"What is intellectual property these days?" he asked when he was officially signed up this week in Auckland. "The game moves so quickly these days that what was relevant last year isn't going to be relevant next year."

His coaching replacement at the Brumbies, Laurie Fisher, dismissed suggestions Nucifora would be able to undermine Australian sides, although he acknowledged Auckland's gain.

"We'll have new plays, new lineout calls and so on for next year, so I don't think there's an issue about Brumbies' secrets heading to New Zealand," Fisher said.

"How one side plays after four or five years of tuning does not necessarily transfer to another group anyway. The Kiwis will benefit because he's a good coach."

Nucifora, of Italian bloodlines and father of three, was flattered to be asked to cross the Tasman. He wanted to continue his coaching career and could not turn down such a strong New Zealand offer.

He left Auckland yesterday having spent a few days with Sloane, some players and officials he will get to know better in his regular visits across the Tasman to watch the NPC.

"It has been good, rugby is like a business, all about people and I have felt very comfortable here," he said before heading back to Canberra.

It was in the seventh week of the Super 12 that Nucifora felt the Brumbies' blade. He had stood up to a few of the senior players who did not rate him highly. They continued to complain and eventually a rattled Brumbies' board sacked the coach.

A distressed Nucifora refused to blame the players, but did have a crack at Brumbies' officials when he finally left as the coach of Super 12 champions.

Since then he has received a number of offers to coach in Europe. He knocked back a chance to work with the Reds.

He will continue to cheer for Australia but he is ready to roll up his sleeves to renovate rugby in Auckland.