'Absolutely': Gregor Townsend grilled on Scotland future as head coach explains what he wants

It is the first time since 2020 that the Scots have lost their first game in the championship and the result will see them fall below the Italians in the new world rankings. Scotland will drop to 10th, with Italy moving up to ninth when they are published on Monday.

Townsend’s side conceded two early tries in the Stadio Olimpico and were 12-0 down after 14 minutes. Jack Dempsey plunged over from close range to bring Scotland back into the game and substitute George Horne scored a try in the second half but Italy never surrendered their lead on an afternoon when torrential rain made running rugby almost impossible.

It’s England next at Murrayfield for Scotland and Townsend insisted he wants to stay on as head coach.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I think we've got a game in seven days' time. We've got a game to review, a selection to be put together, and how we improve is all we're thinking about as a coaching group. It's very tough when you lose, but when you've got a game around the corner, your focus has to be on that.

“How do we make sure we put in a training session, a team that goes out there and gives our supporters a victory? That's all we're motivated by. We didn't get it today, but the focus will be quickly on England.”

Asked again if he expected to still be in charge next weekend, Townsend said: “Well, I want to be, and that's my job. That's what I'm focused on.”

Townsend feels for Scotland supporters

He dismissed the suggestion that a story linking him with a job at Newcastle Red Bulls had affected Scotland’s build-up to the game. Nevertheless, his ongoing role as a rugby consultant with Red Bull continues to invite scrutiny.

Townsend said he was disappointed for the estimated 15,000 Scotland supporters who had travelled to Rome and watched the game in appalling conditions.

“Obviously, it's the first day of the tournament, people with high hopes of coming here and getting a victory,” he said. “We saw our supporters on the way to the game today. We play for them, we play for each other as a group.

“It means a huge amount to our players, it means a huge amount to me. We're really disappointed that we didn't find a way to win, we didn't get the win. We have another opportunity next week, but we're really disappointed. Our fans are right to be disappointed that we didn't get the win.”

Townsend and his players had stressed throughout the week how good their preparations had been. There had also been much talk of the determination to atone for a disappointing autumn campaign, and in particular the match against Argentina which saw Scotland blow a 21-0 lead in the final 23 minutes to lose 33-24.

The defeat by the Pumas prompted booing at Murrayfield and this latest loss will only increase the pressure on Townsend who signed a new deal in September which ties him to the head coach’s job until after the 2027 Rugby World Cup. It will take his tenure past ten years if he sees out the contract.

Townsend felt the performance against Italy was shaped by the weather, with the rain starting at the halfway point of the first half and becoming worse and worse amid thunder and lightning. There was standing water on the pitch but Scotland had fallen 12-0 behind through tries from Louis Lynagh and Tommaso Menoncello before the rain started.

They struggled at the lineout throughout, losing five on their own throw and if was challenging afternoon for hooker Ewan Ashman who struggled with his throwing in.

“I think there were two games in there, there was the first 20 minutes and then there was the game which totally changed with the weather,” said Townsend. “We put ourselves in positions, in the opposition 22.

“There was good phase play, but I think it was the occasions, whether it was Italy stealing the lineout or us giving away a penalty, which stopped us carrying out what we were doing.

“On the two tries that Italy scored…. One of them, we were disappointed with how we defended it, the other one with the ball coming loose, [Menoncello] made the most of that.

“I felt the intent was there, I felt a lot of our build-up play was good, but in that first 20 minutes we only scored that one try. We should have been better, and after that it became a totally different game. One with a lot of mistakes from both teams, but obviously one that you don't want at all. You want to be kicking and trying to get the ball back and focusing penalties and errors from your position.”

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