Donnybrook's small bash for the French (8)

I believe the answer is:

scuffles

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'donnybrook's small bash' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'for the french' is the wordplay.
'for' becomes 'scuff' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'the french' becomes 'les' (les is the in french).
'scuff'+'les'='SCUFFLES'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for scuffles that I've seen before include "Confused fights or struggles" , "Brawls" , "Confused fights at close quarters" .)

I've seen this clue in the Irish Times.

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