Joe Schmidt has announced the unexpected appointment of John Ulugia as the new scrum coach for the Wallabies, succeeding Mike Cron. This change comes as Schmidt prepares for the second Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand at Optus Stadium in Perth on Saturday night.
Ulugia, who has over 200 first-class games to his name from his time in Super Rugby and France’s Top 14, will be taking over Cron’s role for the Spring Tour and possibly longer. Schmidt confirmed this decision while speaking to the media on Thursday, expressing his confidence in Ulugia’s abilities.
The 39-year-old Ulugia hails from Auckland and has played for the ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs before moving to France in 2014 to join Schmidt’s former team, Clermont. Schmidt acknowledged the significant contributions of Cron, whom he has known for over two decades, praising his extensive experience, which includes coaching in over 250 tier-one international matches, predominantly with the All Blacks.
Schmidt described Cron as invaluable, highlighting his ability to bond with the front-row players and the wealth of knowledge he brings to the team. “He’s fantastic glue in the environment,” Schmidt said, commending Cron’s understanding of scrum biomechanics and tactics, which have greatly stabilised and enhanced the Wallabies’ scrum performance.
Looking ahead, Schmidt will pass on the coaching responsibilities to Les Kiss once he concludes the Super Rugby season with the Queensland Reds. The Wallabies have named their squad for the upcoming match, which features players like Max Jorgensen, Harry Potter, and Jake Gordon in the starting lineup, along with prominent reserves.
As both teams gear up for the Test, excitement is building for what promises to be an intense showdown on the rugby field.