KEY POINTS:
Blues coach David Nucifora is the antithesis of his countryman John O'Neill in discussing rugby's future.
While O'Neill, the Australian Rugby Union chief executive, was in full noise about his nation's plans to overhaul the Super 14 series, Nucifora gave nothing away about suggestions he would head up the ARU's high performance unit.
Nucifora is top of the ARU hit-list in what would be another coup for the Australians after they enticed All Black coaching reject Robbie Deans across the Ditch. There is mounting word that Nucifora will be revealed as the new HPU boss next month.
"I have been linked with another ARU job as well for months before this," Nucifora said. "I have not advanced it at all, I have left it alone while I was away."
Nucifora, who has been involved with the Blues since 2005, said there was no timeframe for him to respond to Australia's interest in his skills.
However O'Neill was in cavalier mode, voicing ARU wishes for an expanded seven-month Super rugby series including the introduction of a side from Japan.
The first round of competition would resemble the current round-robin format before a second round of local derbies then a final series of "top six" teams.
"For some time we have had an open mind about the next deal," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew responded.
"This Australian idea has some merit but does not take into account the Pacific Islands, North America or Argentina. It emphasises the needs of Australia are different.
"But in floating this idea, it shows John is always thinking, we won't die wondering with him and that is great value for Sanzar and world rugby."
The NZRU struggled to retain players because of the money on offer in Europe and lesser travel demands. The ARU proposal would increase players' time away from home.
Compromise would be a large part of discussions before any new deal was signed once the Sanzar contract expired at the end of 2010.
Tew said the NZRU's provincial forum this month was designed to deliver a broadbrush vision of how to dovetail the professional and amateur rugby divisions.
The NZRU was asking people to produce an overall view about what was best for New Zealand rugby and Sanzar. Similarly, in future, Sanzar would have to make compromises for the good of world rugby.
