As Ireland prepares to face France in a critical Six Nations clash this weekend, the focus will be on their scrum, a crucial area for their chances of securing a Grand Slam. The French, known for their powerful and destructive scrum, will be a formidable test for the Irish front row, who struggled in the set-piece against Wales in round three.
In that match, Ireland conceded four penalties at the scrum in the first half, although they recovered after the break to win 27-18. With the French bringing one of the heaviest packs in rugby, Ireland’s scrum coach, John Fogarty, addressed the media this week, acknowledging the challenges ahead. Fogarty, a former prop, expressed confidence that the issues faced against Wales would not be repeated against France.
“There are lots of different reasons why a scrum could collapse,” said Fogarty. “Sometimes it’s us, sometimes it’s not.” He noted that the penalties conceded against Wales were mainly due to problems with the setup and engagement process, which led to the Irish props losing their stability. However, Fogarty believes the dynamic will be different against France, who typically engage more aggressively once the ball is fed into the scrum.
The French pack, with its size and power, will present a tough challenge, but Fogarty emphasized that the penalties Ireland conceded against Wales were not related to the physicality of the opposition, but to technical issues in the scrum setup. “There were times when one side was in and the other side was out,” he explained. “It leads to movement, messiness, and collapses.”
Ireland’s scrum was more consistent in their victories over England and Scotland earlier in the tournament, and Fogarty is confident the team can return to that level of performance. “When we get nice entries, we’re in a contest and it’s good to watch,” he added.
The French side, which will be bolstered by the return of Rabah Slimani, who has been recalled to the team after a five-year absence, may have some insight into Ireland’s scrum. However, Fogarty believes both teams know each other well enough that this won’t be a significant factor. “We’ve played them a lot and we’re very familiar with each other,” he said.
The match will also be emotionally charged for Ireland, as it marks the final home appearance for Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy, and Conor Murray, who recently announced their retirement from Test rugby. Fogarty emphasized the importance of managing the emotional energy of the team in preparation for the game. “There will be emotion involved, but the team comes first,” he said. “We want to make sure that mentality is right at each stage during the week.”
With Ireland’s Six Nations hopes on the line, this game against France promises to be a fierce and highly competitive contest, with the scrum likely to be a decisive factor.
