Rugby: Nucifora putting aside his own Blues

David Nucifora

David Nucifora turned a deaf ear when he faced Sean Fitzpatrick during the Queensland and Auckland clashes of the early 1990s.

"He was very noisy and I tried not to listen. That was the best way to deal with him ... in one ear and out the other," says Nucifora of his rival hooker.

It's the sort of nifty trick the new Blues technical adviser used during a remarkable rugby drama last year, when he was told mid-season by the Brumbies that his contract as head coach would not be renewed even though they led the competition by 6 points.

Nucifora's Brumbies had won 18 out of 30. He had guided a team that won the title in Eddie Jones' final season to a final and semifinal, but this was not enough to save him.

As in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, all the central characters were said to have plunged a knife in.

The star Brumbies, of which there are plenty, made it clear to the board that Nucifora - who was trying to build a team for the future at some of their expense - was not their man.

They were silent assassins, as is their way in public.

The cast included Joe Roff, who is cool to the point of icy; George Gregan, who is about as animated as a train ticket collector at the best of times; and of course Stephen Larkham, for whom it is tempting to check for a pulse.

"All for one and one for all" might have been the call, as they quietly drew swords, did the deed, then pledged a code of silence.

The only public utterances of significance came out of Sydney, from former Brumbies. Justin Harrison - benched by Nucifora the previous year - slagged him off. Dan Vickerman offered support.

Nucifora was appalled, then kept turning up to work as usual. The Brumbies won the title.

"You'll never be in a situation coaching where everyone is your mate - if you think that's going to be the case don't do it," says Nucifora, who is reserved but affable during an interview at Eden Park.

Described by observers as blunt and hard working during last year's crisis, he won admiration for ploughing on.

He was portrayed as an outsider who had stumbled because he never joined the inner circle.

His brief from former chief executive Mark Sinderberry had been to provide for a future, which ironically cost him his future as he promoted younger players.

Nucifora steers clear of naming names, apart from that of Brumbies chief executive Rob Clarke.

"He's the fella who let me down," says Nucifora. 'The people I had issues with were a small number but they had a lot of pull within the team. But they never had the nerve to front me.

"I have never said who they were and probably never will. But I started to become a threat to their livelihood. When you start not renewing player contracts ... they were driven by self-preservation. And they got to the new CEO.

"They [the board] didn't even give me time to deal with it in my own way with my family. It was leaked immediately.

"It was amateurish and selfish. But there was no way I was going to back out - not only for myself but others who worked so hard. Never for a moment did it cross my mind to quit." The upshot: Nucifora is now the Blues' "technical adviser".

"It seems to be a New Zealand term," he says.

In other words, he's an assistant coach - alongside Joe Schmidt - to Peter Sloane. Which suggests a certain down-to-earth nature - a championship-winning coach who is prepared to join the ranks.

It was Murray Mexted, the All Black loose forward-turned-loose lipped commentator, who was pivotal in Nucifora's arrival here.

Nucifora thought he was bound for the Northern Hemisphere, but while working at Mexted's rugby academy the prospect of a transtasman move was raised.

"Mex may have mentioned the idea to a few people," says Nucifora. "It was inevitable at some point that an Australian would coach here, or someone from here would go there. "

It remains to be seen what Nucifora will bring to the Blues. He's yet to start working with nine of the squad's All Blacks, who only return in February, but believes the players are welcoming fresh ideas.

The Brumbies have been experts at finding momentum and controlling possession, with a liking for running at gaps. They have also been masters at the breakdown.

Nucifora says: "There are 150 in a game. You've got to be good in that area. It's not like the old days, where you relied on a good No 7. Now, everyone in the team must have the skill in that area.

"Australia and NZ definitely approach it differently. The way is break down the breakdown further - you look at the micro skills.

"There are parts of the Australian game we can add and I'd like to think there's some hybrid version we can reach. But don't expect this team to play like the Brumbies from day one."

David Nucifora

Age: 42
Wallaby career: 1991-93, 2 tests, member of 1991 World Cup winning squad
Queensland: 1986 -1993
Coaching: Queensland under-19s, colts; Australian under-21s; Brumbies
Landmark: First Aussie in our Super 12 coaching ranks
Blues contract: 3 years
Friendly rivalry: Brother Garry is new manager of the Queensland Reds, who are coached by Nucifora's old mate Jeff Miller.
Family: wife Annabel, kids Jack (10), Kate (8), Isabella (6)
Prospects: Under NZRFU rules, his 2005 season with the Blues will qualify him for head coaching ranks here.

Business: Owns insolvency auctioneers in Queensland. "It gives me a lot of confidence," he says, "that I don't have to coach for a living. If I'm going to do this job, I'm going to do it the way it needs to be done - which cost me my job in Canberra."