Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has suggested that fans may have expected too much from his team during the autumn internationals, pointing to a potential sense of 'entitlement' as a source of the widespread disappointment.
Coaching Conviction Amidst Mounting Pressure
The remarks came after his side concluded their campaign with a 56-0 demolition of a hapless Tonga at Murrayfield, a match featuring eight Scottish tries. Despite this resounding victory, Townsend faces growing scrutiny after Scotland lost their two most significant fixtures.
The team infamously squandered a 21-point lead in a devastating loss to Argentina, a defeat that followed a missed opportunity to secure a historic first-ever win over the All Blacks. Townsend, however, firmly dismissed the idea that his tactics or approach were to blame for those high-profile failures.
'I don’t know if there’s an entitlement around us beating the All Blacks and Argentina - these are top-quality teams. We have no right to beat any team,' Townsend stated. Having signed a new contract just months ago, he will continue to lead Scotland into next year's Six Nations tournament.
He expressed strong conviction in his team's direction, arguing, 'Coaches aren’t too important and relevant in team performance at times... I’ve never been more convinced [that this team is moving forward].'
Captain's Fiery Defence of the Squad
Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu delivered a robust defence of the national team, taking a clear swipe at sections of the media and public he feels turned their backs on the squad after the Argentina collapse.
'I’m kind of tired of sitting up here and promising what we’re going to do,' Tuipulotu said when asked about the team's Six Nations potential. 'I’m not going to sit up here and give you guys headlines to go write in the media about how we’re promising this and how we’re promising that just for you guys to create a headline and turn your back on us.'
He emphasised that the focus is now internal, stating, 'The only thing I care about is what’s said in the changing room and not what’s said on the stage.' The captain's comments highlight a unified, bunker mentality within the camp as they look to regroup.
Learning from the Campaign's Defining Moments
While acknowledging the positives, Townsend pinpointed the final 20 minutes against Argentina as the major negative of the entire four-game series, which began with an 85-0 win over the USA.
'While it’s only 20 minutes, it’s 20 minutes that cost us a game and that’s what we have to get right,' the coach admitted. 'We need to manage those momentum swings better, that’s a big learning from this campaign.'
Despite the frustration, Townsend sought to highlight the progress made, describing the narrow loss to New Zealand as 'one of the best performances we’ve seen'. He remains confident that the style of play being developed will lead to future success in the Six Nations and beyond, provided the team can learn to close out tight games against the world's best.
