‘Well, I want to be’ – Gregor Townsend addresses Scotland future as pressure mounts
Gregor Townsend insists he is the right man to coach Scotland, despite pressure mounting on his future
Gregor Townsend insists he still has the appetite to be the Scotland head coach, as pressure to continues to mount on his position.
Scotland slumped to an 18-15 defeat in their Six Nations opener against Italy on Saturday, a loss which all-but ends their title hopes with just one Test played.
It also comes off the back of a disappointing run of form, which has seen Townsend’s side win just three of their past eight Tests, none of which have come against Tier One nations.
‘Well, I want to be’
There has been an intense spotlight on Townsend’s tenure as head coach for some time now, which has only grown brighter in the wake of their rotten Rome defeat.
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Despite signing a new contract extension with the Scottish Rugby Union until the end of the World Cup back in September, he has been consistently linked with the director of rugby position at Newcastle Red Bulls, speculation which reached fever point earlier this week after reports in the Telegraph suggested he had already agreed to take up the mantle after the tournament in Australia, while Scotland’s below-par Six Nations campaigns in the past few years have seen fans begin to call for his head.
However, despite this arguably being the closest to midnight Townsend has ever been as Scotland coach, he insists his focus is solely on his side’s Calcutta Cup clash with England next weekend.
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“Absolutely,” he said when asked if he has the appetite to coach Scotland. “We’ve got a game in seven days’ time, we’ve got a game to review and a selection to put together. How we improve today 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 on a training session and a team that goes out there and gives our supporters a victory? That’s all we’re motivated by.
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“We didn’t get it today, but the focus will be quickly on England.
Asked specifically if he will be in post for the Murrayfield Test, Townsend added: “Well, I want to be, that’s my job. That’s what I’m focused on.
