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Thread: O'Neill keen to see Nucifora return

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    Champion KenyaQuin's Avatar
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    O'Neill keen to see Nucifora return

    O'Neill keen to see Nucifora return
    By Bret Harris, The Australian

    February 12, 2008 AUSTRALIAN Rugby Union chief executive John O'Neill wants to see Blues coach David Nucifora return to Australia to coach a Super 14 team, and is also talking to him about coaching Australia A.

    Nucifora's name was not included when O'Neill announced Michael Foley and Jim Williams as assistants to new Australia coach Robbie Deans.

    Foley will continue the role he had under John Connolly as the restarts (set piece and kick-off) coach, while Williams, a former Australia backrower who is coaching Irish province Munster, will concentrate on the breakdown and continuity.

    But O'Neill is obviously keen to have Nucifora, who guided the Brumbies to the Super 12 title in 2004, involved in Australian rugby again.

    Nucifora would have secured the Wallabies job had Deans not been a late candidate after missing out on the New Zealand position, and he has clearly been identified as a future Australia head coach.

    "David interviewed extremely well for the national coach's job that ultimately went to Robbie," O'Neill said.

    "We'd love to see him back coaching in Australia at a head coach level.

    "You could say why not as an assissant coach? When we looked at compatibility with and complementing Robbie ... David is more of a head coach.

    "If there is an opportunity for him to coach at Super 14 level in Australia, we would applaud that.

    "Also, we are going to be discussing with David some other potential roles at the elite end. Perhaps the Australia A team and some other responsibilities."

    O'Neill's comments on Nucifora will add to the pressure on Australia's Super 14 coaches Ewen McKenzie (New South Wales), Laurie Fisher (Brumbies), John Mitchell (Western Force) and Phil Mooney (Queensland).

    McKenzie has already been placed on notice that the Waratahs have to finish in the top four for him to remain at the helm, while Fisher, despite producing a good overall win-loss record, has not guided the Brumbies into the semi-finals in his first three years and will also be coming off contract.

    It is unclear whether Nucifora would want to go back to Canberra after being driven out by player power, or whether the Brumbies would want him back.

    Mitchell has a long-term deal with the Force, while Mooney is in his rookie season as a Super 14 head coach with the Reds, so they will not be feeling as much heat.

    Even Foley and Williams do not have long-term job security.

    While Deans has been appointed Australia coach for four years, Williams has been given a two-year deal and Foley has one year remaining on his contract.

    Deans will determine whether he can work successfully with Foley and Williams before their contracts are extended to include the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

    "Jim is for two years, through to the end of 09," O'Neill said. "Obviously, subject to how he is going and whether he is complementary and compatible with Robbie Deans."

    ARU high performance manager Pat Howard said that Foley and Williams would complement Deans, a hands-on head coach.

    "With Robbie's skills being in attack and defence, you needed the set piece and forward mentality of Michael Foley," Howard said.

    "Once the decision had been made about Robbie being the national coach, the next aspect was building a complementary team around him.

    "Jim Williams' name was right at the top of the list. He is a European Cup winner. They have made the finals at every stage."

    As expected, there was no room on Deans's staff for Connolly's attack coach, Scott Johnson, or long-time defence coach John Muggleton, as the ARU trimmed the numbers on the coaching and support team by six.

    Muggleton is understood to have been offered the Australia under-19 coaching job.

    "We are in discussions with John Muggleton as to a possible future role," O'Neill said.

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    Immortal GIGS20's Avatar
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    Is JO'N handling the selection for Waratahs coach now is he? At least he's bringing a new era of transparency to the CEO role, everybody is fully aware that the ARU is a subsidiary of the NSWRU now!

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    C'mon the

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