Springbok scrum looms but Ireland focusing on themselves in the set piece

Ireland scrum coach John Fogarty has reduced the number of clips he's showing players of the opposition set piece, instead choosing to focus more on their own game

South Africa destroyed Ireland in the scrum during a 2025 November international. Pic: ©INPHO/Gary Carr

The pity about seeing John Fogarty being put up for Ireland media duties on Monday was that, given how the staff rotate these things, we won’t be hearing from the scrum coach in the run-up to the meeting with South Africa next week.

By then, the scrum will be the first thing on everyone’s mind given it will be the first meeting of the sides since the Springboks splintered the Irish pack at the set piece on the way to a sobering, and flattering, 24-13 scoreline this time last year.