Experienced “Scrum Doctor” Mike Cron to Lead Wallabies Pack Under New Coach Joe Schmidt

Experienced former All Blacks assistant coach Mike Cron has been appointed as the new Wallabies scrum coach under the leadership of head coach Joe Schmidt. Known as the “scrum doctor” for his exceptional set-piece expertise, Cron has an impressive track record of preparing the All Blacks pack for over 200 Tests and most recently worked as a consultant for World Rugby.

Cron will be joining forces with former ACT Brumbies defence coach Laurie Fisher in a highly experienced backroom team to prepare the Australian team for their upcoming Tests against Wales and Georgia in July. Schmidt, who previously coached Ireland, has also brought in Chris Thomson, a former high performance manager for World Rugby, as the team manager.

Schmidt expressed his confidence in Cron, stating, “Mike has added tremendous value in every programme he has been involved with and brings a wealth of knowledge to our coaching group.” He also praised Thomson for his hard work behind the scenes to ensure the team is well organized off the field.

In contrast to the previous coaching staff under Eddie Jones, Schmidt has opted for a tight-knit group of assistants, with plans to appoint a lineout coach while taking charge of the Wallabies’ attack himself. This strategic decision comes after a disappointing World Cup campaign in France last year, where the Wallabies exited in the pool stage for the first time.

Despite the team’s recent struggles, including only two wins from nine Tests under Jones in 2023, the Wallabies have shown signs of improvement, moving up to ninth in the world rankings after Wales’s poor performance in the Six Nations. With the new coaching team in place, Australian rugby fans are hopeful for a resurgence in the team’s performance on the international stage.