Blues Super 14 rugby coach David Nucifora is tipped as front runner to coach the Wallabies.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported this morning that Nucifora, who has a clause in his Blues contract that allows him to take up a national coaching role if it is offered, is
favoured by Aussie rugby chief John O'Neill.
O'Neill, a big fan of Crusaders coach Robbie Deans, is thought to have changed tack, with Deans favoured to take over as All Blacks coach from Graham Henry, after New Zealand's quarterfinal World Cup exit.
Fox Sport reported O'Neill and his high performance director, Pat Howard had interviewed Nucifora last Saturday.
O'Neill wants a "my-way-or-the-highway coach" and will use his reform mandate to revolutionise the coaching structure under Nucifora and lift players' fitness, discipline and skill, the paper said.
Nucifora, who took the Brumbies to a Super 12 title in 2004 and kept the Blues in semifinal contention during the next two years, has strong support to succeed John Connolly following Australia's World Cup exit, also in the quarterfinals.
"David's well known to us, he's had great coaching success," O'Neill said. "We're delighted he's a candidate, but equally that doesn't create any level of favouritism."
O'Neill said the interview process would begin on November 9, by which time the emotion of the Wallabies' loss would not be a factor in the decision.
- NZPA
