John Fogarty not concerned about repeat of Ireland's Cardiff scrum issues

One of the big phrases in French rugby is "No scrum, no win", and it's a motto that will ring true for Ireland this week as Les Bleus come to Dublin.

If Ireland’s scrum has a repeat performance from round three in Wales, it’s hard to see their Grand Slam hopes being alive by Saturday evening.

Ireland conceded four penalties at the setpiece in the opening 40 minutes in Cardiff, although they did get the edge after the break by winning a couple back on their way to a 27-18 win.

Appropriately, scrum coach John Fogarty was up for media this week. Having been whistled off the park against Wales, and with the French bringing one of the game’s heaviest and most destructive packs to town this week, the former prop’s area of expertise was the main topic of conversation.

The issues against Wales came across both tight and loosehead, with Thomas Clarkson and Andrew Porter both penalised twice each, but Fogarty believes the same problems won't arise this week against France.

"There are lots of different reasons why a scrum could collapse. Sometimes it’s us, sometimes it’s not," he said.

The reason Fogarty (below) is confident those issues are behind them is the traits of their opposition.

Against Wales, the penalties Ireland were conceding were generally around the setup of the scrum and the engagement process, which led to Porter and Clarkson losing their stability and collapsing.

And while France have proven themselves to be a dominant scrummaging side - Ireland conceded three penalties in that area when the sides met in 2024 - they look to go after teams in the contest, once the ball has been fed.

"The scrum just seemed to go away from us, so we are trying to hit nice and hard, and the scrum just goes away, collapses on 'set’.

"The