Feek’s scrum programme pushing forward

Mike Cron isn’t a household name in Irish rugby, but in New Zealand he’s known as "the scrum doctor".

Renowned for his astute technical approach — he likens forwards perfecting their scrummaging to golfers tinkering with their swing — the long-time All Blacks forwards coach says he gets his greatest kicks out of giving greenhorn props the tools to become big players on the international stage.

Cron’s joined-up thinking ensures he has an input throughout New Zealand’s elite structures, not just at the top table. In appointing Greg Feek — one of those who learned his trade on Cron’s watch while with Canterbury Crusaders — as full-time national scrum coach and to aid the National Scrum Development Programme (NSDP), Ireland look to be borrowing from the model of the best rugby team on the planet.