Cloud lifting a little for Blues coaches

Blues coaches David Nucifora and Joe Schmidt have only one black cloud hanging over them after being reconfirmed for next year's Super 14 competition.

But it is a significant one.

The pair passed the Blues franchise review process with flying colours in most respects, the only grim note sounding in the poor return on the field.

The Blues finished eighth, with six wins and seven defeats in the inaugural Super 14, an ordinary result for the most populous franchise.

Although former Brumbies coach Nucifora and Schmidt were under the cosh they have been given a vote of confidence.

Yesterday, Blues board member and one of the review panel, Andy Haden, said the franchise is confident results will improve next year.

"Removing people after one year at the helm is not the way forward," he said.

"We need to ensure that we surround our coaches with the appropriate resources and assistance to give them the best opportunity to perform."

Nucifora is overseas, but Schmidt yesterday admitted that while delighted to be carrying on, he felt a weight of responsibility as well. It will be the second year of two-year deals for the pair.

"It is a high-profile franchise in a high-profile competition, and while it's great to be back, there is the pressure now of needing to demonstrate that progress has been made and that it's going to show up in the results we get," he said.

Schmidt and Nucifora will meet Blues chief executive Andy Dalton next week to put plans in place.

"There are things we need to do better and things the players have put their hands up and said they know they can do better, so we've got to make sure we're up and ready to go at the start of next season," Schmidt said.

The review panel included three New Zealand Rugby Union representatives: director Graham Mourie, president John Graham and high-performance manager Mike Chu; with Dalton and Haden.

* North Harbour and Northland complete their Air New Zealand Cup preparations with a match at the North Harbour Marist club today.

Anthony Boric will captain a Harbour side with plenty of pace in the backline, but no Jonah Lomu, who was unavailable after injuring an ankle in a club game for Massey last weekend.

* Counties Manukau coach Kevin Putt reckoned omission rather than inclusion was the tricky part when he revealed his 26-man squad for the provincial competition yesterday.

The squad, to be captained by halfback Ben Meyer, includes three players from this year's Chiefs Super 14 campaign - powerful backs Niva Ta'auso and Lelia Masaga, and rugged forward Kristian Ormsby.

"The hardest thing is limiting the squad to 26 as stipulated by the New Zealand Rugby Union," Putt said after trimming his initial group of 33 players.

Putt praises Meyer's "outstanding leadership abilities", pointing out he had been at the forefront of many initiatives in the squad and organisation.

Counties, who beat Manawatu, North Harbour and Bay of Plenty in pre-season games, kick off at home to Otago next Saturday at Mount Smart Stadium.

* Former Highlanders and New Zealand Maori back Ryan Nicholas is poised to join the Reds for next year's Super 14.

Nicholas, who played 31 Super 12 games at centre or second five-eighths, has spent the past two seasons in Japan.

"At 27, his best football could still be in front of him," Reds coach Eddie Jones, who coached Nicholas at Suntory, said yesterday.