Gregor Townsend 'totally committed' to Scotland job as head coach stands firm in face of scrutiny

The national side were booed at Murrayfield on Sunday after squandering a 21-0 lead against Argentina, conceding five tries in the final 24 minutes to lose 33-24.

Many supporters walked out before the end and the sense of frustration in the stands was palpable as Scotland collapsed.

However, Townsend said there had been a spike in ticket sales since the Argentina match, suggesting a clamour to watch Scotland’s final match of the autumn series against Tonga this weekend.

“The supporters are coming out in huge numbers,” said Townsend. “We actually had a spike after the game at the weekend, and I don't think they were all from Tonga buying tickets.”

Scottish Rugby say they are expecting a crowd of around 60,000 for the Tonga match on Sunday but ticket prices are considerably lower for this fixture compared to recent games against New Zealand and Argentina. Admission begins at £26.50 for adults and £1.50 for under-12s.

Regardless of the attendance, Townsend is facing more scrutiny from supporters than ever before in his tenure. He signed a contract extension in September and appears to have the backing of the Murrayfield hierarchy which wants him to lead the side into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

He claimed that some of Scotland’s recent performances have been among the best of his eight years in charge but the team have beaten only the USA during this autumn campaign. They lost 25-17 to New Zealand after fighting back from 17-0 to draw level and then conceding a late try and penalty to All Blacks playmaker Damian McKenzie. But it was the Argentina game that felt like a tipping point as Scotland capitulated alarmingly.

Townsend has no plans to stand down

The coach said he and the squad had spent the week reflecting on what they could have done better but he has no intention of walking away from the role.

“If someone wants to not give me that job anymore, then that'll be up to them, but I'm totally committed to getting the best of the team, the best of myself, and that sometimes means working harder, sometimes means working smarter,” said Townsend.

“Whatever it is, we have to find out ways to keep on improving, and defeats open up sometimes a mirror, open up a window on deeper discussions, and a defeat like that, like the defeat against New Zealand, there were so many positives that came out of the game and how we played, so our analysis was a lot based on that. Then there was time to go ‘these are the three or four clear opportunities, how can we be better here?’

“But then the following week's defeat, of course everybody's so down about it, we have to get to the bottom of why this happened and why it can't happen again, and that process is one that, I don't want to use positive language around it, but that's more down to the deeper coaching, the deeper bonds that the players have together when they have to answer questions about why this happened and why it can't happen again, and we'll see what happens with it.

“I certainly feel this week, the way our players have talked and how we've gone through the week, it will be of benefit, but it's painful to have to go through that to get potential benefits in the future.”

One of the most galling aspects of the Argentina defeat was that Scotland were on the attack and in a position to increase their 21-0 lead as the second half wore on. However, a loose pass from Finn Russell ceded possession to the Pumas and the game’s momentum flipped dramatically.

“Our biggest learning from the weekend is how we didn't go further up,” added Townsend. “If we'd been sitting here going ‘we're 28-0 up against Argentina, what a performance that must have been’ - well, we didn't go 28-0, we were only 21-0 up, but the next bit was really disappointing.

“That's the bit we have to look at, and also how we got to 21-0, because there was so much good play in that. That is part of a review and part of a line in the sand moment of if we get in this scenario again, when the opposition have the momentum, we have to be so much better at getting it back.”

Despite the harrowing nature of the Argentina defeat and the wasted opportunities against New Zealand, Townsend talked up the squad’s performances as the best of his time in charge.

“I've seen the team play the best rugby it's played in the eight years over the last two or three weeks,” he said. “Now, we're very disappointed we didn't get a win against New Zealand or didn't get a win against Argentina.

“But to get in those positions, to be 21-0 up [against Argentina], the team is delivering up to that point. Yeah, we sensed the disappointment in the crowd. The crowd, it was like an exhale of disappointment.

“We all felt it - what a flat end to the game. And nobody's hurting as much as us as a group. But sometimes those real painful moments as a group that you live through, you come through stronger.

“Actually, the process this week and how we've met, what we've resolved, have to be non-negotiables. I know it'll make us a stronger team.”