Favoured Wallabies coaching candidate David Nucifora says the battle for the job is at the back of his mind despite a decision looming as soon as next Friday.

More rugby
ELVs a dual edged sword, says Dickinson
Roff to retire after Varsity match

In Sydney this week for the SANZAR Conference, Blues coach Nucifora gave away few clues about his prospects to an inquiring media pack.

The former Brumbies coach said being domiciled in New Zealand was “really nice” as it kept him away from all the speculation, but admitted he could not totally escape the subject even in the Shaky Isles.

“I’ve just been getting on with my job, there’s a lot of variables that can happen and the best thing is we’ve been preparing for another Super 14 season, so we’ve been that busy with that,” Nucifora said.

“But obviously it’s in the back of your mind, but it’s certainly not in the front of my mind.”

Nucifora said he wouldn’t be disappointed if the Australian Rugby Union opted for a foreign born coach, which might still happen if Crusaders mentor Robbie Deans doesn’t get the All Blacks’ position.

“I’m a professional coach … they (the Australian Rugby Union) will make their decision on what they think is the best thing for Australian rugby,” Nucifora said.

Nucifora said he didn’t know whether the ARU board would make a final decision about the Wallabies coaching post at a proposed meeting on Friday week.

He said he hadn’t spoken to John O’Neill since the ARU boss went into hospital for an operation.

Keen to remain the coach of the Blues for their 2008 Super campaign, Nucifora said the New Zealand Rugby Union would have the final say on whether he kept that position if he landed the Wallabies post.

Asked if it would be tricky having a foot in both the Australian and New Zealand camps simultaneously, Nucifora joked, “it’s not too tricky, but it would be interesting”.

The subject of Nucifora’s controversial departure from the Brumbies Super title-winning team of 2004 reared its head again today, but he was adamant he would not need to clear the air with any of the Brumbies he’d mentored if he became the Australian coach.

Nucifora learnt halfway through the 2004 campaign his contract would not be renewed by the Brumbies after falling out with some of the players.

“I don’t think there’s anything to clear, a lot of those players I see around the traps and a lot of those boys were just starting their careers in my last years at the Brumbies,” Nucifora said.

“A lot of them have done very well since that point in time, so it would be quite nice to catch up and have something to do with them again.”

He was positive about the introduction of the Experimental Law Variations in next year’s Super tournament.

“There might be a teething period, but I think in general everyone is feeling positive about them,” Nucifora said.

He was adopting a wait-and-see attitude on whether the ELV’s should also be used in international matches.

“The best litmus test is to play these laws with the highest level player, with the highest level of coaches because that is going to test them to the limit of how they can be used and bent and manipulated.”

© 2007 AAP

Enjoy sports? Enjoy a bargain? All Sports Online has your favourite sporting brands at up to 70% off. Online only, premium quality sporting goods and merchandise at discounted prices. Get a deal now.