Axed Jones tips Nucifora for Wallabies

SYDNEY - Axed Wallabies coach Eddie Jones believes his successor at the Brumbies, current Blues coach David Nucifora, should lead Australia to the World Cup in 2007.

"They've made it quite clear they're not interested in developing a team, just performances -- so they should pick the coach who has the highest winning percentage," Jones told The Sun-Herald newspaper.

"They've said to me the reason I'm not in the job is performance. If that's the case, they must get the most successful coach available in Australia. That guy must get the job. "

Asked if he was endorsing Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie, Jones said bluntly: "He doesn't have the best record."

Nucifora, with Jones, is the only other Australian coach to have won a Super 12 title.

However, his contract was terminated by the Brumbies after winning the 2004 final after falling out with a core group of Wallabies players.

While McKenzie is considered the favourite to replace Jones, it is understood Nucifora is a chance should he get the support of the three Queensland board members on the ARU.

Jones, who left yesterday for a holiday in Japan, remains floored by his axing and remains disappointed he never got the chance to present his case to the ARU board.

"You'd think that after I'd coached the Wallabies for four years they would at least sit down with me and go through the issues and give me a chance to present my case," he said.

"That wasn't done. They're entitled to do that but if you talk about rugby being a game about mateship, honesty and integrity, none of those things have shone through with the ARU. "

Jones had two years left on his A$350,000-a-year contract. ARU sources put his payout figure at A$600,000.

- NZPA