The All Blacks will farewell scrum coach Mike Cron, who has announced he will leave his role after the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Nicknamed the 'Scrum Doctor', Cron has spent nearly two decades with the All Blacks during his 37-year coaching career.
The 64-year-old has been involved in sucessful campaigns, including the victorious back-to-back Rugby World Cups of 2011 and 2015, and Bledisloe Cup, Rugby Championship and Grand Slam triumphs.
Known for his unparalleled technical nous, Cron has often drawn on unorthodox sources - including sumo wrestling, ice hockey and ballet - in the endless pursuit of innovation in the forward pack,
Cron said he wouldn't quit for good, but would now focus on mentoring younger coaches and up-and-coming players.
"I've been incredibly lucky and had a wonderful career coaching at international level, and I'm really looking forward to this last year with the team," Cron said.
"It will be my fifth Rugby World Cup this year [four with the All Blacks and one with Wales], so is the right time to step down from the international game.
"That's my other passion. As well as coaching younger players and helping them - hopefully - reach their potential, I'm also keen to help out the young coaches of the future, so looking forward to doing that."
All Blacks forward Sam Whitelock described Cron as "one of a kind" for his quirky ideas.
"He's that guy who's not afraid to look at something completely different, whether it's ballet or wrestling, and go, 'How can we use some of these principals in rugby?'
"He keeps things fresh, so it's not the same repetitive drills that become tiresome. He's very good at coaching that way."
In 2015, Cron was made a Member of New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM).
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