Nice guy Eddie
Toony shrugs off Jones’ digs but Scotland will still be up for a war
GREGOR TOWNSEND chose to shower England coach Eddie Jones with compliments rather than bite over his comments that Scotland are a “niggly” team who “goad”.
It was the calm before the storm in Edinburgh yesterday as the Dark Blues head coach preferred pleasantries ahead of the Calcutta Cup clash which for the rugby tartan army is akin to going to war.
But the message from Townsend was calm heads, composure under fire and for his players to do their talking on the pitch.
With the trophy already housed at Murrayfield, Toony wasn’t in the mood for the mind games with Jones because he’s too busy preparing his side for combat tomorrow afternoon.
He said: “I’ve read Eddie’s comments and I thought they were excellent. He’s analysed our game pretty well, I thought he made some really good assertions around Adam Hastings and Finn Russell, and what they do as players. “The media must love his comments but it’s a
very important fixture for both teams on the back of a defeat. This is the most important fixture that we play every year.
“We play for a trophy, it’s the oldest game in the history of Test rugby and we know what it means to our supporters if we win this game. It’s nice that there’s a bit of spice about the build-up.
“Rugby is a contact sport so you have to get yourself fired up for that contact. We know England are a very physical team. Both sets of players will be motivated, we always are because it is our biggest rival.”
Townsend says the rivalry and passion centred around his own time facing the Auld Enemy used to get the better of him and he’s asking his players to channel that aggression rather than lose control.
He said: “I used to get too pumped up – I was brought up watching us win in 1990 and at the same time, I was playing for the U-18s against England.
“It’s important our players are ready for the physical battle but are in control. In control of their discipline first of all but if they have that fire inside of them and they put it into tackles then great, that’s what you want to see. “I don’t think I did it very well because I lost nine times out of 10 against England.”