‘I believe in this group of and that we can beat the best teams in the WORLD’

● Townsend admits Scotland did not do well enough at World Cup but says decision over his future is for the SRU

can beat the best teams in the world.”

Famously, after the 2003 World Cup,adecisionontownsend’s future as a Scotland player was made for him when incoming coach Matt Williams jettisoned him at the age of 30. With that painful experience in mind, Townsend said it was not the time to make sweeping changes with four years still to prepare for a next World Cup in France and the huge standalone challenge of a 2020 Six Nations to come. “The team that played on Wednesday [in the 61-0 win over Russia at Shizuoka] was a younger team and it did very well in a difficult position,” said Townsend.

“If that team had gone out [against Japan] they would have been lacking a lot of experience in a game of the magnitude of this one.

“It’s encouraging when you see players such as Scott Cummings, who did well to make our squad of 44, play every game in the tournament and the warm-ups.

“It’s really encouraging to see Jamie Ritchie, who was really outstanding after an outstanding game against Samoa off the back of surgery [to his cheekbone] two weeks before.

“There are more. Not everybody is going to make the next World Cup. Some with transition out of their own accord or because a younger or different player deserves selection.

“We have some players coming through who should make us stronger. We have a group of players at the age of 25 to 27. You know these guys, Finn Russell, Jonny Gray who have at least one more World Cup in them. Jonny has 55 caps, Finn on 49. Jonny Gray stood up against Japan and stood up against Samoa. They have to drive the team forward.

“Coaches will be there but the players are the ones that have to set standards and step up. Some of the players have stepped up during this tournament. Greig [Laidlaw, now 34, inset] is not going to be at the next World Cup. It’s safe to say that.

“Players like him have left as massive legacy. He drives high standards on the field and really cares what it means to play for Scotland. I’m sure the other ones do and I have seen it, but it will have to become more their responsibility.”

The lead up to the Japan game was not ideal, with SRU chief executive Mark Dodson holding a press conference on Friday to state the union’s position that they would not accept a straight match cancellation, as was done for three games over the weekend, if all feasible alternative options had not been explored ahead of the typhoon coming in on Saturday. The Scots were rebuked by World Rugby for disregarding participation rules, which Dodson challenged.

Asked if all the dramas had taken a toll on preparations, Townsend replied: “No. If we had come out looking off and just not right in the first ten or 15 minutes… we were not right in