Whenever there’s success at the top level of international rugby in New Zealand, more often than not there is one specific name involved. 

Known as the ‘Scrum Doctor’, Mike Cron was an assistant coach for the All Blacks for more than 200 games, winning the 2011 and 2015 World Cups. 

He then came out of retirement in 2022 to join the Black Ferns, helping them win a world title as well, before shifting over to join the Wallabies. 

In the midst of all this, he’s written a book: ‘Coach: Lessons from an All Black Legend’. 

Cron told Heather du Plessis-Allan that he’s always had a thirst for knowledge, and found ideas from looking at other elite sports. 

“I’ve never been really interested in rugby coaching seminars,” he said. 

“They left me a bit bland, so to speak. Y’know, they just showed you a new drill or something.”  

Ballet and sumo are two sports he’s pulled ideas from, saying the key is to go in with an open mind. 

“If you’ve got an open mind and you look and listen, there will be some, some bit of gold there for you.” 

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