All Blacks coach has ‘utmost respect’ for New Zealanders in Wallabies set-up ahead of Bledisloe Cup Test

The challenge of taking on the Wallabies with two New Zealand coaches in their ranks is not lost on All Blacks forwards coach Jason Ryan ahead of Saturday’s clash between the teams in Sydney.

Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt was one of former All Blacks boss Ian Foster’s assistants during the 2022 and 2023 Test campaigns while Australia’s renowned scrum coach Mike Cron previously worked in a similar role with former New Zealand head coaches Graham Henry and Steve Hansen for more than 200 Tests.

Prior to joining Schmidt‘s backroom staff, Cron was a set-piece consultant for World Rugby since 2021 and he also worked with former New Zealand Black Ferns boss Wayne Smith in the build-up to their 2022 Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph.

Although Ryan enjoyed his time in the All Blacks coaching box with Schmidt, he admits that he has a closer connection with Cron who he regards as one of his mentors in the game.

‘He has been a mentor for a while’

“Probably more so with Cronno, I guess,” Ryan said. “You know he has been a mentor for a while. Both of them. It’s New Zealand coaches isn’t it? So I have enjoyed working with Joe, and obviously Cronno has been a mentor.

“I probably didn’t think he [Cron] would be coaching Australia to be fair, but one thing I really respected about Cronno is that he rang and told me.”

Schmidt’s defection to New Zealand’s trans-Tasman rivals was confirmed in January of this year while Cron’s appointment as the Wallabies’ scrum coach was announced a little later in April.

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While news of Cron’s addition to the Wallabies coaching staff came as a surprise to many in the rugby world, Ryan revealed that the veteran coach broke the news to him before it was made public.

“He gave me a heads-up before it was public. And I really respect him about that,” said Ryan. “The All Blacks have been a massive part of his life. So I guess, it’s the coaching world isn’t it?

‘I have the utmost respect for both of them’

“We’re in a game where you just don’t know what’s next. So, yeah, I have the utmost respect for both of them.”

Like All Blacks boss Scott Robertson, Schmidt has a 57 per cent win record since taking charge of the Wallabies following four wins and three defeats in seven matches played this year.

Ryan believes Schmidt’s Wallabies will employ a fast-paced and attacking style of play – a tactic which the All Blacks will welcome as they too enjoy doing things at a frenetic speed.

“I think they will want to play fast,” he said. “He puts a lot of work into the breakdown side of things, I know that. I think he’s had a good influence on their side already, and he knows the game.

“I have got a lot of respect for him and I am sure that, come this test, they will be right on.

“As we will be, too.”

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