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6N England v Scotland reaction: Gregor Townsend upbeat in defeat
FOR a man who had just watched his team lose a game they had done more than enough to win (meaning they’d had to hand back the Calcutta Cup to their oldest and fiercest enemy for the first time in five years), Gregor Townsend was in a fairly positive mood when he met the press as the dust settled on a pulsating contest at Twickenham.
“A lot went right as well,” he retorted, when asked what went wrong to lose a match in which his team had commanded 58 percent possession and 59 percent possession. “We scored three tries to one, so to get that possession and amount of yards I’m sure would have meant a lot in the game. They were the positives, and the negatives or the work-ons were partly us, but also England, I thought they defended really well in their 22.
“They kept their discipline. Often when you get in the 22 you manage to get a penalty from offside, we didn’t get that. And I thought they were really strong close to the ruck. So credit goes to them. We know we can be better when we’ve got those opportunities and we tend to convert chances that we have.
6N: England v Scotland: FULL-TIME: heartbreak for visitors
U20s 6N: England’s pack power prevails over error-prone Scotland
“I think the way the players trained this week and came together and owned the game plan, it was a really good training week,” he continued. “We felt confident as a coaching group that we were going to get a very good performance out of the players today. And it probably surpasses, performance-wise, what we’ve done here the last two or three years [times].
“Normally when you have that amount of pressure and opportunities to score points, you get more on the board. So that’s a work-on, but three tries to one and the way that on two occasions we came back to potentially win the game: one, obviously with a try, but even at the end … I’m so proud of the group for that effort and that skill at the end of a game.
“They did all they could to retain the Calcutta, but it was probably down to England’s defence and also them kicking their penalties when they got them in the second half.”
When pressed on whether Scotland can feel hard done by after some key refereeing decisions went against his team, Townsend tried to be diplomatic but couldn’t quite fully disguise his frustration.
“I’m going to go through the game two or three times to see whether we could have got better decisions,” said the coach. “I did feel that the decision that counted against us for the winning three points, where we cleared someone out of the ruck, I just don’t know how that’s a penalty. We’ve moved someone off the ruck and they’re two feet off the ground and there was no moving legs above the horizontal. That was an interesting call for us to end up going six points behind.
“I thought the referee did well. It was a very good game to watch, which would mean that the referee’s had a big part to play in that. Sometimes you’re going to get those decisions and sometimes you’re not.
“I had a quick look just to remind myself where the penalties were coming from [in the second half when Scotland were penalised nine times]. I think they were different areas. I think there were a couple of set-piece. I think there was one jump and collision there, maybe a couple of scrum and a couple around the tackle area.
“That gave England chances to get three points, sometimes from far out. So that’s frustrating when you feel you’ve not had to withstand any pressure but you’re three or six points worse off on the scoreboard.
“So yes, in part it’s England’s pressure. They had more ball in that second half and I thought they got gain-line a couple of times through their big carriers. They’re a very good team so that would be an area that we definitely have to improve.
“We look at ourselves first of all and how we could have got more penalties out of England when we had a maul going forward, when we got in their 22. And also how we could have scored one, two, three more tries, which would have been a huge achievement coming down here. But that’s what we probably should be looking to do with the chances we had.
When asked about whether he had any complaints about England’s try, which didn’t appear to be clearly grounded from various video angles, Townsend said: “I didn’t really look at it, I heard the [other] coaches say it wasn’t grounded, but I was on to the next thing which was a kick-off.”
Error, group does not exist! Check your syntax! (ID: 8)
There is no Six Nations rugby this coming weekend, then a Wales team buoyed by a very encouraging performance against Ireland under new interim coach Matt Sherratt arrive at Murrayfield for round four of the championship, before the campaign wraps up with trip to Paris to take on France the following Saturday. Scotland’s title aspirations may be gone for another year, but Townsend insisted there is still plenty to play for.
“I think it will be not too difficult [to lift the player] because we asked them to show who we are as a team today and I believe we did that. Both in attack and defence and the effort that’s required to play for Scotland. So a lot of what we worked on and what we showed today, we’ve got to bring that out in the next two games and there will be tough challenges.
“I watched a lot of the Wales game today, they played very well, and we know we’ll have to build on what we did today. Then there’s Paris, which will be a very tough game against France. But how we played today away from home shows that we can create opportunities and score tries against a very good defence.”
“We were very close to getting a historic win and whether it was a kick or another decision at the end of the game, we’d be talking about a brilliant win. We’re not. And that’s credit to England for staying out in front at the end.
There were no new significant injury concerns after the game, with How Jones taken off in the second half as a precaution and the back spasms which forced Rory Sutherland to drop off the bench prior to kick-off (replaced by Jamie Bhatti) not thought to be too serious.
“Huw just had his Achilles tightening up so that was a decision to bring him off,” Townsend explained. “Any other decisions were tactical.
“Rory’s hoping to be available for Wales but it was a back spasm on Wednesday that hasn’t got better. So we’ll make sure we get a scan just to rule out any disc issues. I thought Jamie did well when he came on. So we know we’ve got experience in that area. Nathan McBeth came down yesterday and was added to our squad so we’ve got good cover at loose-head if Rory does miss out against Wales.”
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Gregor Townsend should be replaced at the end of this 6 Nations. With the best squad of players we have had in the professional era,) the best he has done in seven seasons is finish third twice. In his eighth season he can do no better than that. We always fail when it matters most, lacking discipline and, crucially, a strong mental attitude. Much is made of the fact that he has a higher win percentage than any other Scottish coach. This is quite misleading. Ian McGeechan, for example, had five seasons in charge. In his 35 games in charge, 29 were against teams in the top echelon (in alphabetical order Argentina, Australia, England, France, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales). He won 14, drew one and lost 14 for a 50% record. He won a Grand Slam in 1990.
Townsend’s record against those same top teams, against whom he has had 55 games, is 21 wins, one draw and 33 losses… a 39% success rate. His overall success rate is hugely boosted by 33 games against inferior opposition in which he has won 29 and lost four. McGeechan, by contrast, only met sides outwith the top nations on six occasions, winning five.
The truth is that Scotland under Townsend never win when it really matters.
Time for Franco Smith to get a shot at the top job. He has shown, with Glasgow Warriors, what can be achieved with a much stronger mentality.
I just watched the BBC’s Sunday evening programme on the weekend 6 nations matches. Hoping for John Barclay to make some comments about some of the highly questionable refereeing decisions in the Eng v Scot match I feel let down that he did not mention anything at all. Nothing!
I really don’t want to blame the ref for the result, but I feel that there seems to be a lack of accountability for the officials and that something needs to be done about this. E.g. the ref getting Finn to take his last conversion attempt from further out than the line from VDM’s try. Itoje’s off his feet at the ruck under English posts but penalty given to Eng.
Plenty more to mention and I am sure Scotland were let off in other situations , but what I object to is the lack of accountability. Surely the game of rugby in a professional environment can stand up to some rigorous assessment?
As with many of you, I was annoyed but joyed with some of our rugby and as with the France game last year we can’t rely on the referee to save us. The facts are the facts we pin our hopes on one man FR and he then becomes the single point of failure as play maker and kicker. We need an alternative or backup. England were awful and shouldn’t kid themselves that they’ve turned a corner, they won due to the mistakes of France and Scotland. We were sloppy and that’s why we lost, we play for 60 mins and that’s why we lose. My final point is that what business would keep the same management and board after 8-10 years of winning nothing. How long will it be before the Murrayfield pay public say no more. Just a thought. The new CEO has some tough decisions to make. We will beat Wales and give France a good test but another year of disappointment. I won’t settle for mediocrity and neither should Scotland. Kickon lads, all you’ve got is your pride left to play for.
I thought it was one of our best performances away from home in a long time . I think GT has done a great job over the past few years given the limited resources we have . It’s very easy to not make a mistake in the stand !! I can’t believe some of our armchair critics.
Oh we have short memories!!! In the early 2000’s we played 9 years of six nations 45 matches a total of 9 wins !!! The last 9 years 45 matches 22 wins , we have beaten more top nations in that period than ever before , we are playing in a great brand of rugby and GT get my support for what he has achieved as coach !
Kenny M
Gregor has taken this squad as far as he can. That is clearly obvious. It’s time for a new coach, and it’s overdue!
Same old story, we need a new Head Coach, its as simple as that!
In my very humble but usually accurate opinion, Gregor has taken this squad as far as he can, and it’s time for a new coach with a new perspective. If I were the new CEO, I would be talking to Franco. Smith could take over the Scotland reins at the end of this year’s URC season. Gregor could play out his contract as a roving talent scout. This would include searching the globe for Scottish-qualified players and convincing them to join the Scotland system – something he’s very good at. However, this change should happen soon; it’s overdue!
Some games are won by fine margins and, like this one, can be decided by missed kicks &/or refereeing decisions. Penalty & conversion kicks are down to the individual kicker but Russell certainly wasn’t helped in the last conversion kick by DVDM not making more of an effort to get closer to the posts before touching the ball down. With regards to the officiating by the combined referee, his linesmen, & the TMO, the amount of missed/ ignored incidents (e.g. offsides, players not supporting their weight, etc) &/or wrong decisions were just too numerous to be tolerable in today’s professional sport. World Rugby needs to get a grip of the officiating standards within the pro game as it just isn’t at the necessary level to ensure a fair & flowing game (including quick recycling of the ball) that maintains the entertainment & excitement factor for audiences.
Best advert I have seen for tries being worth 6 points.
I have the humble opion that Kyle Rowe was magnificent, his tackle on Currie brave and timely. I am not going to carp about Townsend as we as a nation seem to accept mediocrity as a given. A 4th pace finish would be a reult this year as we steadily head down the 6 Nations table, all that said i thought the players gave ther all. A rejuvenated Wales next in my predictions this I predicted a home win however not so sure now .
“I am not going to carp about Townsend as we as a nation seem to accept mediocrity as a given”
So…..you’re not going to carp about Toony because you agree with said accepting mediocrity!?
Rant: Completely disagree with apparently just about everyone on this site on box kicking. It’s an absolute must to exit, and play in the right place on the park, using contestable kicks. This modern day, territory astute, Garry Owen / up and under, executed by the protected scrum half, with less risk fumbling, is a feature of all the best teams in the world, and we’d be giving up on a huge part of the game if we didn’t use them. From Bath to South Africa, they’re a no brainer. Especially for Scotland who can’t hope to gain territory, ever, by punching holes with heavy duty forwards up the middle. What’s more, the better our back three are at receiving them, the more chance they have for an opportunity in a broken play situation. If we start trying to run out from our own half, especially in the first forty, we’ll be creamed by stronger teams every time. And, we won this battle yesterday, Rowe was hugely impressive, with the height of likes of Kinghorn, Duhan and Steyn it should be not just a necessary for clearing our lines but a weapon.
A very hard loss to take. Try count for Scotland a moral win. McDowells break heart stopping and was heading for the sticks. If he had got there a win. If Scotland had played left to right in the last quarter the stress would have told. England players were on their knees. Scotland fitness better.
Chances require to be taken that’s pro sport.
If George Horne had been on the field at that point he would have been on McDowell’s shoulder for the final pass.
Our biggest Achilles heel is our lack of lobbying power at executive level and the media in particular.
Jim Hamilton, the podcaster extraordinaire, was one of the Scottish sided pundits on ITV yesterday. You’d think he’d advocate for us but conspicuously made sure he didn’t dent his earning opportunities. His X account is the same. Meanwhile his Ex-England chum, Andy Goode was straight out saying the ref handed the game to England! Beattie and Barclay are similarly meek. It’s all about the money.
Contrast that with Jonathan Davies brazenly calling for Ringrose to be red carded yesterday, demanding Owens condemn him on the spot, and being an unashamed Welsh cheerleader the whole game (which was a useful reminder of why you should never feel sorry for the Welsh no matter how many games they lose). And that’s another thing…….that an ex ref is allowed to peer review decisions during commentary in games involving his country is a disgrace. There is no way that doesn’t introduce bias in the minds of circuit referees.
The French game last year was another obvious one where decisions were being made in the bunker, away from scrutiny, to appease the TV company with the biggest audience share. The ref may as well have just said “the French producer told us we aren’t allowed to give it”.
Until we have a serious voice off the pitch it will never change.
Andy Goode is simply a clickbait pundit. Not worth bothering with at all.
Jonathan Davies wasn’t the only person in the commentary box saying Ringrose should get a red card. Interestingly Nigel Owens wasn’t so sure until it was decided it was a red card and then Nigel told the viewing public that it was definitely a red card! Not quite sure what these ex-officials add to the party (in football as well as rugby) as most of the time they are very reluctant to say their former colleagues have made a mistake.
Apologies to all for my twitching index finger. It was not clear that my original and subsequent re-submissions had been successful. Others have had similar problems in the past.
Sorry !
While I cant get over the disappointment it is interesting to read Will Greenwood’s article in today’s Sunday Telegraph. Essentially he stated that Scotland played all the rugby and England just grunted their way to an undeserved victory. I need to get on my usual hobby horse though about the dreadful ‘art’ of box kicking. Why oh why do we relentlessly box kick away hard won possession? We are so dangerous with ball in hand. It was also noted (by Greenwood) that the Twickenham crowd booed Mitchell overdoing the same ‘art’ which at least did give us back possession. While I hope Franco Smith gets the Scotland job (and is given FULL control over all Scotland rugby) I cannot agree with the Townsend moaners. He has released the fear that pervaded so much of Scottish rugby in the past (we couldn’t buy a try in the bad old days).
Townsend has done a pretty good job considering the resources available to him and has Scotland playing a brand of rugby that is enjoyable to watch. The result at Twickenham was a tragedy. Scotland fully deserved to win but didn’t because Finn had an off-day with his goal kicking but moreso because of a very subjective (dodgy) refereeing decision that gave England 3 points they did not deserve. Rugby was undoubtedly the loser.
Vern Cotter released the fear and The SRU decided we needed to get Toonie in before he went abroad. Now we need to keep Franco Smith and let Toonie go. I am not a Toonie Hater and love watching this team play but if we really want to move forward we need some new thought and direction.
Let’s not hang out Russell to dry. The result is hard to swallow but we are what we are.
In a way, I think the game was a microcosm of GT’s tenure of office. Game management has always been an issue. In football, the best managers are adept at seeing the twists and turns of a match and, if things start going wrong, they analyse the problems and communicate to the players what changes are needed to recover the position. Townsend is an excellent backs coach but, if things start going wrong at the start of or during a game, he or his players seem to struggle to recover. He is not helped by apparently not having an outstanding candidate for captain. Are he and his coaching team trying to get messages to the current co-captains when there is a break in play ? Are the co-captains building a relationship with the referee, like the Irish captain, so they can politely query some of the referee’s pattern of decisions with impunity or are the leadership decisions simply falling between two stools e.g. Darge suggesting trying a change of kicker ?
Armchair commentators cannot possibly fully comprehend the emotion and helter skelter experienced in a game, especially when there is a momentum swing, but the Coach and his team, the captain/s and the squad should all be prepared for the vicissitudes of a game. New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland are classic examples.
With our resources, we have to be realistic and we sometimes manage to punch above our
weight. However, why did we not start against Ireland like we did against England ? If the mental obsession to beat England produces competitive performances, then perhaps we should ask all our opponents to wear an England shirt!
Maybe it is simply time for a change in the coaching team.
Had a night to ponder and i am still absolutely gutted. I know you make your own luck in sport and exerting pressure on teams leads to them giving away penalties, but we never seem to get the 50/50 calls or are on the end of downright wrong decision in big Test matches.
Yes, we have to look at ourselves and our inability to ruthlessly put away teams when we are on top. We also need to knock this CC nonsense on the head, we need one C on the pitch and they need to start sticking up for us (respectfully) to the Ref.
I have always loathed the narrative that there is a conspiracy against us and that officials are biased….but it now seems to be partly factual, we are regularly starting to be seen clean off in big matches and i am sick to death of it. I appreciate we have ‘rugby values’ but maybe it is time for us to stick up for ourselves and have the SRU call it out publically…
Let’s not hang out Russell to dry. The result is hard to swallow but we are what we are.
In a way, I think the game was a microcosm of GT’s tenure of office. Game management has always been an issue. In football, the best managers are adept at seeing the twists and turns of a match and, if things start going wrong, they analyse the problems and communicate to the players what changes are needed to recover the position. Townsend is an excellent backs coach but, if things start going wrong at the start of or during a game, he or his players seem to struggle to recover. He is not helped by apparently not having an outstanding candidate for captain. Are he and his coaching team trying to get messages to the current co-captains when there is a break in play ? Are the co-captains building a relationship with the referee, like the Irish captain, so they can politely query some of the referee’s pattern of decisions with impunity or are the leadership decisions simply falling between two stools e.g. Darge suggesting trying a change of kicker ?
Armchair commentators cannot possibly fully comprehend the emotion and helter skelter experienced in a game, especially when there is a momentum swing, but the Coach and his team, the captain/s and the squad should all be prepared for the vicissitudes of a game. New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland are classic examples.
With our resources, we have to be realistic and we sometimes manage to punch above our
weight. However, why did we not start against Ireland like we did against England ? If the mental obsession to beat England produces competitive performances, then perhaps we should ask all our opponents to wear an England shirt!
Maybe it is simply time for a change in the coaching team.
Let’s not hang out Russell to dry. The result is hard to swallow but we are what we are.
In a way, I think the game was a microcosm of GT’s tenure of office. Game management has always been an issue. In football, the best managers are adept at seeing the twists and turns of a match and, if things start going wrong, they analyse the problems and communicate to the players what changes are needed to recover the position. Townsend is an excellent backs coach but, if things start going wrong at the start of or during a game, he or his players seem to struggle to recover. He is not helped by apparently not having an outstanding candidate for captain. Are he and his coaching team trying to get messages to the current co-captains when there is a break in play ? Are the co-captains building a relationship with the referee, like the Irish captain, so they can politely query some of the referee’s pattern of decisions with impunity or are the leadership decisions simply falling between two stools e.g. Darge suggesting trying a change of kicker ?
Armchair commentators cannot possibly fully comprehend the emotion and helter skelter experienced in a game, especially when there is a momentum swing, but the Coach and his team, the captain/s and the squad should all be prepared for the vicissitudes of a game. New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland are classic examples.
With our resources, we have to be realistic and we sometimes manage to punch above our
weight. However, why did we not start against Ireland like we did against England ? If the mental obsession to beat England produces competitive performances, then perhaps we should ask all our opponents to wear an England shirt!
Maybe it is simply time for a change in the coaching team.
Let’s not hang out Russell to dry. The result is hard to swallow but we are what we are.
In a way, I think the game was a microcosm of GT’s tenure of office. Game management has always been an issue. In football, the best managers are adept at seeing the twists and turns of a match and, if things start going wrong, they analyse the problems and communicate to the players what changes are needed to recover the position. Townsend is an excellent backs coach but, if things start going wrong at the start of or during a game, he or his players seem to struggle to recover. He is not helped by apparently not having an outstanding candidate for captain. Are he and his coaching team trying to get messages to the current co-captains when there is a break in play ? Are the co-captains building a relationship with the referee, like the Irish captain, so they can politely query some of the referee’s pattern of decisions with impunity or are the leadership decisions simply falling between two stools e.g. Darge suggesting trying a change of kicker ?
Armchair commentators cannot possibly fully comprehend the emotion and helter skelter experienced in a game, especially when there is a momentum swing, but the Coach and his team, the captain/s and the squad should all be prepared for the vissitudes of a game. New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland are classic examples.
With our resources, we have to be realistic and we sometimes manage to punch above our
weight. However, why did we not start against Ireland like we did against England ? If the mental obsession to beat England produces competitive performances, then perhaps we should ask all our opponents to wear an England shirt!
Maybe it is simply time for a change in the coaching team.
I’m struggling with ditching GT tbh, as not sure what the other options are…. But, we do need to seriously up our game in the tight, let’s not kid ourselves that it’s because every other team has bigger forwards – the Irish pack isn’t any bigger, but that are better than most, and we also went toe to toe to toe with the Boks… Not sure that the forward coaching is getting the most from our guys and being able to score 5m out rather than coughing up possession could be the single biggest improvement to our win rate….
In terms of the depth they can bring off the bench the Irish are bigger, or at least more physical/athletic than us currently, esp. after we have a few injuries.
To build the depth we desperately need a third pro team, albeit one that could be a de facto development side (like Zebra) exposing youngsters to pro game accompanied by a few gnarly veterans. Sadly this seems a longterm aspiration currently, but I really hope it is a recurring point of discussion among the SRU bigwigs.
3 missed conversions and too many penalties given away, but the actual rugby play was excellent from Scotland, and should have won. However, it’s the result that counts in the end no matter how goid you played. Frustrating but another Scotland self inflicted loss in a game they should have won. Not Toony’s fault.
I’d love to see Jack Mann get a shot. He’s a big ball carrier who’s been immense for Glasgow. I also don’t get not having Horne on the bench, he’s ideal when you need an impact. Toony’s teams play exciting rugby, the just don’t know how to win when the pressure really comes on. Check Ireland yesterday, theh weren’t great but their belief is off the charts.
Wow what do England have in their collective Cornflakes, they are outplayed in their last two games and yet manage to win both, still trying to figure out how and now could finish 1st or 2nd. We on the other hand might finish 4th but after yesterday the Welsh gimmie looks a bit more challenging. Maybe we should to do a collective Gregor report card on his time as coach, but on second thoughts we should wait till end of 6N.
Simple – they have been taking their chances the few times they get them, and taking their points at the key moment.
When you only manage a total of 15 pts despite getting three tries, you’re setting yourself up to fail, and making things a lot easier for the other side.
I agree I don’t think the Welsh game is a gimme any more. Okay Ireland were playing quite a bit worse than at Murrayfield, but the Welsh team looked way more coherent, and that was with only a week of coaching with their new coach.
I think it would be interesting to see a full appraisal of the Scotland coaching team – not sure that all the issues and there are many can be parked at Townsend’s front door – perhaps some of the work on the trading pitch needs to be tweaked
Mr Bousset the French referee requires to make an urgent appointment at Specsavers
Finn Russell looked under real pressure with some of the decisions – still wonder if it would be better if he wasn’t involved in co captaincy – for that reason we missed Sione !
There are other players who could have been captain in Sione’s absence to be fair. The Darge / Russell co-captaincy thing didn’t work the first time round, so returning to it always felt a very odd choice.
But ultimately if Finn doesn’t feel up to being captain, he should say so (or have said so at the start of the tournament) and passed the baton elsewhere.
That was definitely one we should have won. The English try that wasn’t. Or the Finn Russell conversions that should have been (I was so sure he was going to get third time lucky, but alas, no :() … But how many times did we get into the England 22 and knock on or get turned over. A very painful defeat, but if we can just up the ante slightly next year I wouldn’t be surprised if we win by 20.
I’m not a Toonie fan at all, but the reality is when your kicker manages to have a 0% record across a match, and the ref awards a try that was very clearly not a try, that’s not something you can really blame on Gregor.
Unlike against Ireland, the strategy here was the right one, and there was a fair bit of decent execution – 3 tries to 1 makes that clear. But England took their kicks excellently whenever they got the chance, and Scotland didn’t, and that ultimately won them the game and lost it for us.
What you can blame on the coach is our long and continued inability to score points when we have possession for more than a couple of phases in the 22.
As soon as our forwards start to carry we lose all momentum and it’s only a matter of time before we are driven back, causing us to relaunch on the back foot, or are turned over.
It has been an obvious failing for most of Townsend’s tenure and he has done nothing to address it, so we keep losing games we could have won. It can’t be the players, because Glasgow seldom have their momentum killed in this way.
The backs, good as they are, can’t finish every attack from deep in one or two phases. Our forward effort approaching the opponents’ goal line is by far – and I really can’t emphasise just how far – the poorest amongst Tier 1 nations.
It’s all become a little 2005-09 “signs of improvement”-ish, the regular glass-half-full mantra of Frank Hadden. That’s hugely depressing to hear 😕 We obviously should have won that match today, and yet we did not. Nor did we ever seriously look like we would, despite being so much better at rugby than them! 😮💨
8 years of “signs of improvement”-ish … and a few 3rd place 6N finishes and 2 WC first round exits. SRU is fooling the Scottish rugby public. Change is needed and the start is Franco Smith installed as national team coach this summer!!!!!!!
100%. FS is the only sensible, credible option for me. He knows most of the players and he has a very good reputation as a head coach. Having been involved in international setups before, I don’t think there is anyone else qualified or more appropriate than he is.
But the real issue with getting FS in, is GT needs to be out. Correct me if am wrong, he’s contracted until, but including the next RCW? Getting one in and another out will cost money. Which is a whole other problem entirely.
The England game was there for the taking. To be frank, there have been so many games there for our taken but are consigned to history as losses.
I listened to another podcast and a question was asked, “Is this just the level of Scotland?– Should we be happy with it as it is because realistically we are very unlikely to achieve the heights that England, France, SA, NZ or Ireland could? I think there is arguement for and against but it’s food for thought given how poorly funded grassroot rugby is.
I thought Gregor Townsend was contracted until 2026 not 2027. Which in itself feels wrong. The new coaching team would have a Summer Tour, 6N and warm up games before Australia ‘27.
Looks like it we never control the game obviously we’ve not got the biggest forwards and the top teams are able to stop us from scoring as we near the finishing line.We are a good running team when we get or carve out space,there were more good performances than the other two games.It was tough,three missed kicks,though not easy.Missed opportunities lack of composure and physicality.we’re at the same point every year as the above person has mentioned.PS Why does Blair Kinghorn slip about the pitch,and carry the ball like a basketball player,then again he plays with a big pack of forwards in France?
“Our tries came from broken play not coached game plan”
What do you mean? They all came from well executed backs moves exploiting weaknesses in England’s defensive set up. It is reasonable to want to move on from Townsend, but the claim that he does nothing right and it is obvious he needs to go is tiresome.
Reminds me of when Kinghorn scored a hat-trick from 10 and the chat on here was that they were all ‘full back tries’ even though two game from he receiving as first receiver and the third came from him taking at first receiver, passing, then supporting on the inside.
Reading certain comments on here I sometimes wonder if people actually even watch the match before writing the moan to be honest…
There’s always Paris …! The SRU needs to end this nonsense now. Enough!!!
Yes, I’m sure sacking Gregor Townsend mid-tournament will definitely cause Finn Russell not to miss all his kicks.
Masterful proposal
How can say he’s proud of our execution in the first half? We butchered several chances on the English line as usual, endless failed pick and goes or scrum penalties.
Our tries came from broken play not coached game plan.
the tries came from a clear and obvious game plan – to attack england’s wide defence which has been poor all season, especially on their right hand side. France did the same but dropped the ball more
That’s just nonsense – the tries and the try chances all came from clearly coached strategies, using the mostly excellent backs to target England’s weak points out wide.
You’re never going to succeed with every one, but 3 tries to 1 tells you that part of the game went to plan.
(Plenty other parts, especially in the second half, didn’t)
The second try was a lineout move.
Not a great Toony fan but I don’t think he can be blamed for today’s defeat. The missed conversions maybe had more to do with it. Our backs were devastating when they got a chance. A game we should have won.
If he’s going to get hit with sour grapes accusation he may as well have listed a few more shockers.
I think Toony has done his best but probably time to hand over the reins. Great squad which has the ability to move on to the next level.