Wallabies scrum coach Mike Cron jokingly refers to himself as ‘broken-down old forwards coach’. But in world rugby, the New Zealander is renowned as the foremost expert on scrummaging, a decorated scrum doctor who can diagnose and cure even the shakiest of set pieces.
Since joining the Wallabies set-up in April, after 35 years of coaching, including 200 Tests with the All Blacks between 2004 and 2019, Cron arguably faces his most difficult challenge yet: preparing the Wallabies pack for the front rows of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland, all desperate to audition for next year’s British and Irish Lions tour in Australia.
What does Cron have to work with in November?
In the run-up to the spring tour, Cron has had the opportunity to work closely with the majority of his front-rowers, having watched Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, James Slipper, Isaac Kailea and Billy Pollard compete at Test level. He is also familiar with versatile Western Force prop Tom Robertson, who has returned from his sabbatical at Oxford University.
However, he admitted being surprised at the skills gap in the scrum when he started his role with the Wallabies.
“I was surprised with some of the skills they probably needed, probably at a younger age, and we just had to go back a wee bit to make sure we nailed that and bring them through,” Cron said.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Samu Kerevi train during a Wallabies training session at Victoria Barracks on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
“But rugby players are rugby players. I’ve been lucky enough, I’ve done a wee bit of coaching in 15 countries … and every rugby player, I think, they love doing what they do – otherwise they wouldn’t be doing it, and they are very keen to get better. These guys are no different.”
Getting more out of Taniela Tupou
The gulf between the starting props – Angus Bell at loosehead and Taniela Tupou at tighthead – and their replacements is massive in terms of scrum stability. Cron has watched Tupou since his schooldays at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College and describes him as “probably the most explosive prop I’ve ever coached”. But in the Rugby Championship, Tupou averaged just 42 minutes on the field, compared to 49 minutes for Bell.
Cron is not concerned about getting more minutes out of Tupou, but is interested in listening to the prop and ensuring he is providing the best work he can in the time he is on the field.
Taniela Tupou’s minutes may be limited for the Wallabies but his importance is hugeCredit: Getty Images
“Even in the All Blacks, I didn’t have my front rows go past about 50/55 minutes, because they become a defensive liability sometimes, and it keeps them fresher for the following week,” Cron said. “It’s a long race, not a sprint.
“So I’m not one to leave guys on for 70/75 minutes where I can try and rotate – and what that does do, it keeps the starters a bit fresher for next week but it also gives the younger guys coming off the bench a lot more game time.
“Coming on for five or ten minutes, I don’t know what they achieve. Coming on for 30 minutes, you can get into the game and achieve a lot, and that’s how you reduce the gap between your best and not so best.”
Can they compete with England?
First up, on November 10, the Wallabies face the might of England – the team with perhaps the strongest front row of the home nations alongside Ireland. The Wallabies won 89 per cent of their scrums in the Rugby Championship, but in the English they face a side playing regular elite club rugby and right at home in the heavy conditions underfoot.
England possess young props in Fin Baxter and Will Stuart, combined with the experience and cunning of Ellis Genge and Joe Marler, all vying for Lions selection.
Cron believes the Wallabies front row will be able to stand up to any challenge thrown at them in Twickenham, given their bruising encounters across the Rugby Championship.
“From where they started, they’ve done well, and now we go into another baptism of fire up there,” Cron said. “You just go towards it, and I’m sure they’ll do well.”
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