Time not right for Wallabies job, says Nucifora

David Nucifora. Picture / Richard Robinson

David Nucifora would love to be Wallaby coach - just not right now.

The 43-year-old Queenslander has been flagged by dumped Australian coach Eddie Jones as the best man to replace him.

But, while flattered at Jones' support yesterday, Nucifora reaffirmed he'll stick by his commitment to being the Blues Super 14 head coach for the next two years.

"At some point in time, as a coach you'd love to be considered to coach your national team," Nucifora said.

"It would be a privilege to do that.

"But the reality of the situation is that circumstances and timing don't always permit that to happen.

"I've got a two-year contract with New Zealand rugby to coach the Blues and I'm really looking forward to that."

Jones said yesterday that although Waratahs coach and former Wallaby prop Ewen McKenzie might be tipped as front runner, his record didn't measure up against Nucifora.

"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," Jones told the Sun Herald newspaper.

"That guy" is Nucifora, the only Australian other than Jones to have a Super 12 title on his CV.

When Jones became Wallaby coach, Nucifora replaced him at the Brumbies, being in charge for three years.

He led them to the final in 2002 and the semifinals a year later before winning the Super 12 in his last season. En route to the title, Nucifora became the victim of a Brumbies player revolt, and was told he was out of a job for 2005.

Nucifora was a member of this year's Blues coaching staff and became the first non-New Zealander to become head coach of a New Zealand franchise when he succeeded Peter Sloane.

Nucifora said he had not spoken to anyone from the ARU since Jones' axing and did not know what their procedures would be to find a new coach.

"It's nice of Eddie to say that. But I suppose the reality of the situation is it won't make any difference," he said.

"Maybe some day it may pan out that I get the opportunity. But my focus is on the Blues. We've been in training for a week and all this is a bit of a distraction for everyone, and I don't want that to be the case."

McKenzie reckons he's the right man for the job, having led the Waratahs to their first Super 12 final this year, and is sure Australia, who have lost eight of their past nine tests, can be a formidable team at the 2007 World Cup in France.

"I certainly think we have the talent and ability to do it, it's a matter of getting like-minded people working together," McKenzie said.

McKenzie, 40, is committed to the Waratahs but raised the prospect of taking over the Wallabies after the Super 14 ends in May.

"These things have happened before, the transition between coaches doesn't always happen at the perfect time," he told NZPA.

He was unconcerned about the tight schedule he would face to turn around the team's fortunes.

"Time-frames don't worry me. You only have to look at some of the banks who turn their profits around very quickly - you can make major headway very quickly if you get the right people pointing in the right direction."

McKenzie believes he has a good idea of what is expected at national level, having been there 50 times as a player and another 50 times as assistant coach to Jones.

"I came into a very challenging job here at the Waratahs, there were a lot of issues and I like to think I have been able to ... create a united force."

- Additional reporting NZPA