The blunt Gregor Townsend response to ‘sets the tone’ complaint from Fabien Galthié and the ‘unexpected’ team change he was delighted to make
Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has responded to a complaint from French boss Fabien Galthié, inset
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend has given a blunt reply to French accusations that the away team dressing room at Murrayfield is “the smallest in the world”.
The Scots host title favourites France on Saturday in Round Four of the 2026 Six Nations, and Fabien Galthié flew into Edinburgh, taking a pop at the facilities they must use at the stadium.
Townsend’s team made life difficult for the French when they last clashed on the pitch in Scotland, threatening a win in the 2024 Six Nations before the visitors produced a late 10-point flourish to win 20-16.
However, while Les Bleus found the going tough on the pitch, Scottish boss Townsend has laughed off the criticisms from Galthié that the away team dressing room isn’t fit for purpose and that it is a disadvantage for visiting teams.
“That already sets the tone…”
“It’s always very difficult to travel to Scotland,” alleged Galthié after he unveiled his XV for the Round Four match, their second away from home following last month’s dismissal of Wales in Cardiff.
“The changing room, in my opinion, is the smallest in the world. We change in the corridor, let’s be honest. That already sets the tone.
“We regularly ask if they can give us the next room, which is available, but we don’t get it. So we continue to change in the corridor for an international match. The referees’ changing room is bigger. So we know what to expect as soon as we arrive at the stadium.”
The ‘next’ room referenced by Galthié is used by the media for a pre-game lunch and then for the post-game top table media briefings with the respective head coaches and captains.
The allegation about Murrayfield having the “smallest” away team changing room was put to Townsend at his media briefing following the announcement of his latest Scotland team and he was left bemused by the nature of the criticism, insisting no other visiting side had ever made this type of complaint.
Six Nations 2026: All the round four team news, broadcasters, kick-off times and referee changes
“Apparently, the media have got more power than French rugby,” he quipped, amused by the optics of the situation. “It’s the first time the opposition have complained about our away changing room publicly.
“It’s the changing room Edinburgh use week in, week out. It’s a changing room every away team have used over the last 20 years.
“And whether they have got huge staff, which I think is part of the issue… it’s not really my job. You’re asking me questions about things that are getting organised to accommodate their numbers. If it sets the tone, it’s interesting.”
Of far more relevance to what will take place on Saturday was the surprise return to the Scottish XV of Jack Dempsey. He was said to have sustained a campaign-ending bicep injury in the February 14 win over England, but he has shrugged off that medical assessment by being declared fit to start against the French.
“It’s unexpected, I have to say,” declared Townsend with delight. “A couple of weeks ago, we thought those three injuries we picked up in the England game, none of them would be back for the championship.
“There was always a grey area around Jack. He didn’t require surgery, or he wanted a second opinion. This type of injury, you can come back from it.
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France team: Fabien Galthie makes five changes including midfield shake-up for Scotland showdown
“He pushed himself really hard with Glasgow last week and came into our camp on Wednesday and Thursday. We trained against the U20s on Thursday. It wasn’t meant to be a full-contact session, and he turned it into a full-contact session. That gave us confidence and gave him a lot of confidence.
“He has that cohesion with the other two guys in the back row, but he’s a carrier for us as well and a really explosive carrier.”
While a fourth bonus-point victory in a row for the French will seal the title for the defending champions with a round of matches to spare, a win for Scotland could potentially see them overtake the French ahead of a ‘Super Saturday’ March 14 finale featuring Ireland versus Scotland and France against England.
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