QUESTION TIME FOR SCOTS AFTER EXIT
Scots must face up to reality following their pool-stage exit
SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend and his Murrayfield paymasters have plenty to ponder on their long journey home from Japan. Here,
Sportsmail looks at some of the key questions that should make up any planned debrief in the days and weeks ahead.
HAS Townsend earned the right to continue as Scotland head coach?
Based on Scotland’s performances at the World Cup, the answer is no. But he will be given the Six Nations to restore his reputation. He is contracted until the summer of 2021 and will not walk away before then.
The SRU are also heavily invested in the ‘Townsend project’ and will not want to pull the plug. A disappointing Six Nations campaign, however, and the pressure may prove too much.
Scottish Rugby are currently in a strong position given home games at Murrayfield are consistently sold out. The worry would be if the continued poor performances from the national team saw fans start to vote with their feet.
WHAT are the alternatives?
Vern Cotter was hard done by when he did not have his contract renewed in 2017 to fast-track Townsend into the post. He is likely to leave Montpellier at the end of the season and there is already a campaign to get him back.
However, such a scenario is unlikely to happen. SRU chief executive Mark Dodson let him go in the first place and won’t want to admit he made a mistake by re-appointing him.
Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill would certainly shake things up with the national side and could come into the reckoning. He has done a sterling job at club level.
JIM MALLINDER, the former Northampton Saints coach, has been brought in as SRU performance director. How big a role could he play in the revival of Scottish rugby?
Absolutely massive. He replaced Scott Johnson, who may have done a lot of good work but never raised his head above the parapet to explain his actions. Mallinder has the big job of improving standards within Scottish Rugby.
He had an excellent reputation as a coach with Saints and was one of the top coaches within the English Rugby Union age-grade system before he was poached by the SRU over the summer. If Townsend needs an older, experienced coach as a sounding board, Mallinder fits the bill. Don’t be surprised if he becomes heavily involved alongside Townsend in the Six Nations.
HAVE Townsend’s backroom staff passed their sell-by date?
Defence coach Matt Taylor has been with Townsend from his Glasgow Warriors days. Forwards coach Danny Wilson has hardly set the heather on fire, while Mike Blair is at least up and coming.
The simple fact is that when Scotland come up against a good team, they can’t stop themselves conceding tries — sometimes four in a game and usually they come early on. That means we need to score five of our own to compete and that just doesn’t happen.
The coaching team need to carry the can for this. It has been going on for so long, many of us are fed up talking about it! When Frank Hadden was Scotland head coach, he let his assistants Alan Tait and George Graham go to try and freshen things up. Townsend is likely to resist such a move but bringing in new faces with new ideas could be part of the deal for him to keep his job.
HOW much blame should Mark Dodson shoulder?
He certainly can’t avoid the inquest. Dodson has been in charge for eight years and is under pressure. He promised a major improvement of the national and age-grade teams but that just is not happening.
He is in charge of a governing body that has seen the national team exit the World Cup at the group stage. The Scotland Under20s team failed to automatically qualify for their equivalent.
There is a disconnect between the SRU chief executive and the clubs, who see him as aloof and not listening to their views.
TOWNSEND’S stated desire for his team to play ‘the fastest brand of rugby’ and attack most of the time is starting to haunt him. Why is there no plan B?
He said after the loss to Japan that he wished that fact had never become known. It was first revealed in public by a player.
But it was Japan who played the fastest rugby against Scotland. Let’s face it, we were run ragged.
Once again, Scotland failed to show that there was a plan B. It’s all well and good playing fast and loose, and there is no denying it is great to watch, but when that doesn’t happen, or when a team is better at it than you, surely there is a need to go back to basics.
Keep the ball, slow things down. When Scotland did that in the second period against Japan, denying them possession, we regained a foothold in the game. Unfortunately, by then it was too late.
The frustrating thing for Scotland is that there are good players in the team — and good performances. But there is an inability to put it together for the full 80 minutes.
There are spells in every game Scotland play when they look a class act. Equally there are stages when they are blown away. Someone, somewhere has to get to the bottom of it.
HOW ruthless should Townsend be over what players he should cut after the World Cup?
Greig Laidlaw is set to retire from international rugby, but John Barclay, Tommy Seymour, Ryan Wilson and Gordon Reid should probably all have played their last games for Scotland.
WHAT players should he build his new team around?
Jamie Ritchie, Magnus Bradbury and Blade Thomson have the potential to be the first-choice back row. Ritchie is one Scotland player who can be pleased with his World Cup efforts.
Jonny Gray in the second row is a rock, while there is obviously Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg to provide flashes of inspiration and
Darcy Graham has proven to be a real find.
Second-row Sam Skinner, who can also play in the back row, missed the tournament through injury. That was a significant loss, as was the injury to Hamish Watson in the opening defeat to Ireland.
LAIDLAW was Scotland skipper against Japan after Stuart McInally was dropped to the bench. Who should lead the team into the Six Nations?
It should be someone guaranteed a game, which is why Townsend should consider Hogg. He captained Scotland against the USA two years ago and has been vicecaptain on several times. McInally is a decent leader but Fraser Brown may take his starting place.
DIDN’T we simply lose to the better team on Sunday?
Stating the obvious, but yes. Japan were outstanding, although Ireland beat us without having to try very hard.
It was honestly a pleasure to watch the host nation and take in the atmosphere inside the stadium. They play a different kind or rugby, fast and refreshing. Their handling skills are immense, and if Townsend wanted a blueprint for his speedy brand of the game, this was it.
Japan face the beasts of South Africa this weekend and it will be interesting to see how the Springboks cope.
Perhaps we are seeing a glimpse of the future. Townsend, or whoever is in charge, should take note.