Australian verdict on David Nucifora taking Scottish Rugby job

The fallen rugby powerhouse might have needed someone of his ilk in the role, but the intention behind his arrival ahead of the 2019 World Cup was entirely wrong.

Castle wanted someone to watch over Michael Cheika after the Wallabies coach went on a tear.

The issue was few in Australian rugby thought Johnson, who left the Scottish Rugby Union with a mixed reputation, was the right fit. Nor did his reputation change either.

Johnson might have lured Dave Rennie Down Under from Glasgow, but the director of rugby was merely an expensive extra set of eyes who did little to influence Australian rugby.

Australian Scott Johnson during his time working as Scotland coach (Image: SNS)

Most players were irked by his disinterest in them when he first touched down on the eve of the 2019 World Cup, while agents didn’t respect him either.

Indeed, a strong waft of entitlement followed Johnson with every step the former playmaker took.

Ultimately, a change in leadership at the top essentially signalled the end of Johnson. Rennie followed him out the door soon after, too.

In stark contrast, there was genuine optimism and excitement when former Wallaby and long-time Irish high performance director David Nucifora was unveiled as RA’s new consultant late last year.

Read more:

• Scottish Rugby appoints David Nucifora in performance advisory role

Although Peter Horne was announced as RA’s new director of high performance at the same time, the fact that ‘Nucci’ was back in the tent was considered a coup.

While Nucifora might have left the Australian Rugby Union bitter after another ugly exit, which came after he was booted out by player power despite overseeing the Brumbies’ Super Rugby title in 2004, the former World Cup winner’s stocks had gone through the roof during his decade at the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Indeed, as the cash-strapped ARU changed its name to Rugby Australia – a costly exercise in itself – to try and fool people into thinking that it would distance themselves from the blunders of recent years, here was a former Wallaby who was at the heart of Ireland’s rise.

From selecting the coaches, rubber stamping player contracts, moving people from province to province, and spotting talent across the world like Mack Hansen, every decision within the Irish walls went through Nucifora.

It led to the men in green rising to the top of the World Rugby rankings in 2018 and, later, Andy Farrell’s Irish becoming the first nation to topple the All Blacks on New Zealand soil in a series in almost three decades.

David Nucifora helped Ireland to world number one, and a series win over the All Blacks, as well as four Six Nations titles (Image: Getty Images)

Even Nucifora’s fingerprints were on the rise of Ireland’s men’s and women’s sevens programs.

As Ireland won plaudits for their innovative style on the field and well-oiled machine off it, all RA could do was watch on with envy.

Given it was an Australian pulling the strings, it felt like a dagger for many.

After Andy Marinos unsuccessfully attempted to lure Nucifora home, it looked like he was coming back for good following the Paris Olympics having been brought on as a consultant nine months earlier.

It’s why it made Sunday’s news that Nucifora was heading to the SRU even more difficult to swallow – with the former hooker to finish up with RA on November 30.

Indeed, heads dropped when it was revealed Nucifora was planning to leave before he had even unpacked.

Some states were caught blindsided, others thought they were getting left with the wrong high performance figure in charge.

Current RA CEO Phil Waugh claimed Nucifora was only ever hired on a “project basis” to help overhaul the game’s pathways system and contracting model alongside Horne. Neither has been completed, yet.

It’s easy to see why Nucifora decided to jump camps.

Financially, the high performance specialist will undoubtedly be paid considerably more by the SRU than RA.

After all, RA has already spent three-quarters of the $80 million loan it took out from Pacific Equity Partners.

Nor has RA been able to bring all four Super Rugby franchises under their control, with a fifth side culled mere months ago after financially collapsing.

The political landscape that has long engulfed and held Australian rugby back hasn’t disappeared either.

Indeed, anyone looking under the bonnet of Rugby Australia would have been spooked by what they saw.

There might be a few major events heading to Australia over the next four years, but it’s still not a rosy picture.

Andy Farrell will lead the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia next summer (Image: PA)

It’s why Eddie Jones had it written into his contract that if certain measures weren’t met, he could bail. He did.

Now Nucifora has done the same despite wanting to slowly settle down in life on Australia’s Gold Coast.

It’s a smart decision for someone unlikely to work full-time again.

With just two Scottish professional men’s sides in the United Rugby Championship, it’s a safer bet for Nucifora to dip his toes into another national union without walking into the spider web which is Australian rugby.

For the excuse-making, political factory in Australia, Nucifora’s departure is another painful blow for a rugby union that badly needed hard truths delivered by an unflinching and resolute man.