# Scrum
Last year
2022
# mauled
Immense performance from POC's Irish forwards at heart of win over Boks
The maul was the key battleground in an absorbing Test in Dublin.
Tomorrow is a huge day for Paul O'Connell and his Irish forwards
Scrum coach John Fogarty and his pack also need to show they have found solutions.
# clarification
'The ref said a few decisions went against us when they shouldn’t have'
Ireland were heavily penalised last weekend against England.
# painting pictures
'We've got a really good scrum... you don't become a bad scrum overnight'
Ireland hooker Rob Herring believes they can resolve last weekend’s issues in Twickenham.
# Final
Farrell 'not concerned at all' about Ireland scrum as sights set on Scotland
The Ireland boss believes his side have “a world-class scrum.”
All time
# First Test
'It's big boy rugby, isn't it?' - DJ Furlong fired up for the Springboks
The Ireland tighthead prop is relishing the set-piece battle this weekend.
# Review
Andy Farrell's Ireland show promise but hard work is still ahead
The lineout and scrum were superb during this championship but there’s lots of work to do elsewhere.
# Endgame
'Unfortunately, Connacht just made the wrong decision in this case'
The final scrum offered Andy Friend’s men a 15v13 chance to win late on against Munster.
# Physicality
'He’s probably my bodyguard! Have you seen the size of that lad?'
Connacht lock Quinn Roux is aiming to help Ireland win the set-piece battle against England.
# harsh lessons
What Leinster have changed since Saracens' demolition job of their scrum
Robin McBryde explains what the province learned from that disappointing day.
# Family man
'I've spent a third of my life in Ireland, we're so happy having a place to call home'
These are exciting times on and off the pitch for Connacht and Ireland lock Quinn Roux.
# prop life
'That competitiveness between two world-class tightheads is great'
Leinster prop Tadhg Furlong is close to returning from a minor back issue.
# freddie
'Without the Munster fans, we are nothing. Without them, we play for nothing'
Freddie Pucciariello won two Heineken Cups and a Magners League with the southern province.
# Legal
Ireland dismiss 'strange' Welsh complaints over Furlong's scrummaging
The tighthead prop’s set-piece work was questioned by Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys.
# belief
'We're confident we can beat them' - Japan have a plan for Ireland
The Japanese squad have done their homework on Joe Schmidt’s squad.
# smarts
Analysis: Springboks' clever scrum attacks echo Schmidt's plays
Pieter-Steph du Toit made two similar linebreaks in the Boks’ win over the Wallabies.
# Taking the positives
'At the start I was actually going into the scrum myself!': Ross making his impact felt
The performance of the scrum was one positive aspect of Ireland Women’s heavy Six Nations defeat to England on Friday.
# Dominant
Ireland's pack 'want to go after teams' as November shows destructive side
Simon Easterby’s charges took Argentina and New Zealand apart at scrum time.
# Vacancy
'That is the ambition': Leinster scrum coach Fogarty ready to step up if Ireland come calling
Greg Feek will join Joe Schmidt through Ireland’s exit door after next year’s World Cup.
# ruck hit
'It was the greatest cleanout I've ever seen, and I've seen a few cleanouts in my time'
Rob Kearney is confident Ireland can produce one last big effort in their ‘final’ against the Wallabies.
Schmidt backs 'good scrummaging hooker' Scannell, with Cronin missing out
The Leinster hooker is absent from the matchday 23 for the second Test against the Wallabies.
# front row union
2012 a fading memory as Irish rugby delivers major scrum progress
Ireland U20s scrum specialist Ambrose Conboy is working with the next generation of front rows.
# Strike Plays
Analysis: Conor Murray's lineout and Munster's clever set-piece attack
We’ve broken down some of the province’s best efforts from scrum and lineout in recent weeks.
# Ports
'I'd like to think she's looking down, smiling down at me. That I'm doing her proud'
Leinster and Ireland prop Andrew Porter on why the passing of his Mum has been a driving factor in his career.
# Analysis
How different is professional rugby to the good old days of amateurism?
We’ve taken a look at the Ireland v Scotland games from the 1995 Five Nations and 2016 Six Nations.
# Best of Enemies
War of words between Michael Cheika and Eddie Jones continues as England's scrum criticised
The England boss. riled his native Australia by calling for a pre-match meeting with referee Jaco Peper.
# unit
Analysis: Connacht's pack beautifully cohesive to demolish the Scarlets
Pat Lam’s men hammered the Welsh side at scrum and maul.
# Refresher
Leinster's Healy striving for peak fitness with McGrath keeping pressure on
The Ireland and Leinster prop benefited from some down time last week.
# Super Mario
'He was crawling through the middle and I was thinking, 'what is this guy doing?'
Former Pumas hooker Mario Ledesma has transformed the Australian scrum.
# Number 1
'The fire is starting to burn, Cian Healy wants that jersey back'
Jack McGrath has barely put a foot wrong since taking over as Ireland’s loosehead, but the man they call Church brings something else entirely.
# Looking Back
The tragic tale of Max Brito -- the Ivorian player paralysed at the 1995 Rugby World Cup
One 24-year-old winger’s life was altered irrevocably just over 20 years ago during a match with Tonga.
# Contenders
Cheika's Wallabies lay down World Cup marker with win over All Blacks
A brilliant second-half display saw the Australians emerge as fully deserving Rugby Championship victors.
# weakness
Analysis: All Blacks scrum showed its weakness against South Africa
Tony Woodcock showed on Saturday that he’s there for the taking
# hiring
Wallabies engage Argentinian 'scrum doctor' ahead of World Cup
Australia’s scrum struggled at times against South Africa at the weekend.
Video: Tesco shoppers filmed fighting over reduced-price meat
It gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘bargain hunting’.
# scrum wars
Analysis: Munster must target Ryan Grant to get the edge in scrum battle
Munster’s tightheads will be key players on Saturday
# Wily Operator
Munster secure BJ Botha until after World Cup on new six-month contract
The province have also announced deals for Niall Scannell and Kevin O’Byrne.
# Size
Jack McGrath: 'I think I’m pretty light compared to 155 kilos!'
The Ireland loosehead says France pose a particular physical challenge at scrum time.
# no scrum no win
'Boks stay bashful about scrum chances while trusting Pollard to fire up the back-line
South Africa are in rude health, while Joe Schmidt could conceivably have to make do without his entire first-choice front row.
# Pause and engage
Sebastian Chabal has fun with mála to explain what props do in the scrum
Nope, us neither.
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