KEY POINTS:
Offended All Black scrum guru Mike Cron has vowed to quit if his coaching techniques are shown to be illegal.
Cron's retort came after Springbok captain John Smit continued his double-pronged criticism of the All Blacks scrummaging tactics and the way he was injured when he was picked up and dumped by lock Brad Thorn.
Smit went through a list of complaints before his injury-enforced early departure from the Tri-Nations series, criticisms Cron felt were surprising from such an experienced scrummager.
Cron would not discuss Thorn's one-week suspension for lifting and dumping Smit but was adamant the All Blacks scrummaging was legitimate.
"It is legal. I would give up if I coached All Black illegalities. I would chuck it away," the scrummaging sage said. "I try and teach our scrum coaches in New Zealand to be purists of the art of scrummaging."
Cron's influence has been enormous since he was employed on a much more regular basis with the All Blacks and while the pack has two changes for this week's test in Dunedin, he feels they will deal with the task.
They would be penalised at times but that was the nature of scrummaging just as flankers were picked up for infringing at the breakdowns. He invited anyone to attend All Black training sessions to watch their scrum technique.
"Over four years I think every team that we have put out has portrayed a good aggression, a good technique and wants to stay within the laws," Cron added.
"If you do things within those legal boundaries it is the strongest and safest technique. It is negative otherwise."
The Springboks have accused All Black loosehead prop Tony Woodcock of angling out then boring in on his rival tighthead opponents.
However Cron said that would be spotted easily by match officials. That was called "steeping around" and Woodcock did not use that tactic.
Meanwhile another important cog in the All Blacks scrum, lock Ali Williams, went through some lineout drills at training yesterday and ran slowly around the field but did not take part in any scrums.
Williams damaged his ankle before the opening 19-8 win at Wellington and with Thorn out of action, has been excused plenty of training duty to ensure he is fit to help new partner Anthony Boric on Saturday.
Cron had no doubts Boric and new tighthead John Afoa would continue the sort of scrum work the All Blacks have become accustomed to in recent seasons.
The coach had been a little disappointed last week but pointed out there were many changes in the pack from the premier unit at the World Cup. Props needed regular matchplay otherwise their technique would suffer.
Afoa had played one club game since his knee injury against Ireland and had a sessions with a wrestling coach this week to sharpen his reflexes. The key for Cron was getting his props to stay strong while there was movement.
Every test, the All Blacks encountered illegal opponents, Cron said, "but we do not grizzle about it".
Some problems could be sorted but it was tough for officials to deal with at ground level.
The All Black scrum had made massive gains, it was now a matter of micro-improvement.
"That is because we have our systems throughout New Zealand in all franchises. I go round them, they all have similar drills and techniques and it is starting to take effect throughout the country," he said.
Before he headed home, Smit suggested there would not be similar tolerance if All Black captain Richie McCaw had been similarly hurt.
"Just imagine Bakkies Botha doing something similar to Richie McCaw. World rugby would have come to a standstill," Smit said.
Smit's continued protests came after the All Blacks questioned the regular late hits on Daniel Carter. The Springbok captain said he had complained repeatedly to referee Stuart Dickinson about the All Blacks scrummaging in Wellington.
"I think he [Dickinson] got tired of me saying it all the time and he eventually decided to award a penalty to us."
The Springboks name their team today.
WOODCOCK LAUGHS OFF PROTESTS
All Black loosehead Tony Woodcock continued his public laissez-faire attitude towards the latest claims he used illegal scrummaging tactics against the Springboks.
"What will be next? Who knows?" he said yesterday.
Woodcock laughed at the latest assertions after he was branded a myth earlier this year by former Wallaby forwards coach Andrew Blades.
"I'm not getting penalised and I hope that doesn't happen at the weekend but obviously we will try to do everything within the laws and do our best," he said.
The 27-year-old skirted suggestions he was a victim of his success and said he would be going out at Carisbrook for the second battle against the Boks with the intention of improving the work from the 19-8 win in Wellington.
The Springboks believe match officials at the Cake Tin failed to pick up Woodcock's illegalities but his scrum coach Mike Cron was adamant his premier loosehead was using his superior technique and experience.
