Blues coach a Black issue

Those Who ascended to the moral high ground when prominent Australians fought the appointment of John Mitchell at the Western Force, might want to check their position ahead of the Blues' end-of-season review.

It seems an odds-on certainty that the New Zealand Rugby Union is going to have to wrestle with a similar dilemma and ask whether it is ready to go the whole hog and appoint an Australian to coach the All Blacks.

The position is relatively simple - whether he chooses to apply or not (and he was suitably vague when quizzed on Friday night), Peter Sloane will not be in charge of the Blues next season.

Hot tip to replace him is his current technical advisor, the very Australian David Nucifora.

The time for change has arrived. The results of the last two seasons have not left Blues chief executive David White grinning widely.

Nucifora is exactly the sort of level-headed campaigner who could squeeze out every drop of potential in what remains arguably the competition's second most gifted side. He's had a year in the set-up, building knowledge of the individuals and team culture.

Those who have seen him coach and listened to his ideas are unequivocal in their belief that he could produce a thrilling rugby side.

Look at how the Brumbies' fortunes have plummeted since booting Nucifora out last year. In 2004 they were champions, this year they are the competition's most serious under-achievers.

The only issue is Nucifora's nationality. The five Super 12 franchises are training grounds for those being groomed to take over the All Blacks. If Nucifora is appointed, it must be on the proviso he is willing and eligible to take over the national team if invited.

Other countries have hired foreign coaches - Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Italy - but the NZRU position is unclear. The current eligibility criteria requires the All Black coach to have held an NPC or Super 12 position for a year prior to his appointment. Nucifora has already done that but would the NZRU really feel comfortable coping with the inevitable public backlash of appointing an Australian to coach the All Blacks?

If the answer is no, then the NZRU, which does have a say in Super 12 head coach appointments, should veto Nucifora's promotion. To put him at the helm of the Blues without a willingness to see him rise up the chain would be denying home-grown talent a path to the ultimate coaching job.

Wellington's John Plumtree is one coach who would have cause to feel a little aggrieved. He has done great things with the team's forwards and taken the capital side to successive NPC finals.

He's ready to take on the challenge of working at the next level and could be a candidate for the Blues job.

Vern Cotter, the amiable Bay of Plenty coach who is doubling up as assistant at the Crusaders, would be another worthy applicant.

While it is possible that recently-appointed Waikato coach Warren Gatland could serve as an assistant coach at the Blues, it seems unlikely. He would struggle to do either role justice by spreading himself that thin. He's coming home to prove himself and will see delivering results at Waikato as the ideal way to do so.

Rugby moves into its 11th year of professionalism in 2006. The question for the NZRU is whether the public are ready to accept all its consequences.