Townsend’s fighting talk
● Scotland head coach ‘privileged’ to be in job and insists he’ll learn from Japan
Gregor Townsend insists he still has the stomach to continue as Scotland head coach despite the national team’s pool-stage exit from the Rugby World Cup.
Speaking after Sunday’s 28-21 defeat by inspired hosts Japan in Yokohama, which saw the Brave Blossoms top Pool A and reach the quarter-finals, Townsend was unequivocal in stating that he wanted to stay in the job.
“Yes, of course,” he said. “I feel very lucky and privileged to be in this role.
“If someone else was to do it the least I could say is that I’ve enjoyed the time here.
“You might not get the impression but I don’t like losing. You always feel you’ve represented your country and not done a good enough job.
“That’ll start to hit over the next few days. But walking out [to face Japan], in that atmosphere, and with these great players, it’s the best job in the world. There are highs and lows, but I know I’ll be a better coach for the experience, the team will be better, but the proof will be in the next games.”
Scotland went into Sunday’s game knowing they had to win by more than seven points but, after a positive start as Finn Russell opened the scoring with an early try, they were swept up in a whirlwind of speed that, surely, few teams could have coped with on a night of intense emotion and passion at the end of a weekend which had seen the host nation hit by a devastating super typhoon.
Scotland responded with heart but, after slumping to a 28-7 deficit, a comeback was simply too much and the campaign was over.
Townsend added: “I feel that coaches don’t have the ownership of how you should feel [in thats situation] – that’s the players.
“They put the effort in over four months. Some of them will be thinking that this will be their last World Cup; some might think this will be their last time playing for Scotland. You can only feel for them. Noone wanted to be here in this situation. It isn’t great, but they are a mature group emotionally and they are a tight group.”
Townsend was visibly despondent at the outcome after so much effort but the moment he winced most visibly was the moment he was asked about the much-vaunted “fastest brand of rugby in the world” which had been the unofficial mission statement of the Townsend era when he replaced Vern Cotter in 2017.
After a night when the Japanese played with a speed and intensity that was hard to keep your eyes on at times, it was
England stand-off George Ford believes Japan can advance deeper into the World Cup if they maintain the stunning form shown in progressing to the knockout phase.
The hosts have toppled Ireland and Scotland en route to setting up an historical first appearance in the quarter-finals where they face South Africa at Tokyo Stadium on Sunday.
“It’s knockout games now, so it’s about whoever plays best on the day, and Japan have a bit of momentum behind them,” Ford said.
“I’m sure the country is getting behind them as well, but we will see how they get on. I’m not surprised they have gone well – they have some belief. From what I believe, they have had a fair bit of time together to prepare for this World Cup.
“They play to their strengths and that is fast, moving the ball into space. But they can also carry, are good at the breakdown, slowing it down and kicking at the right time. When we played them at Twickenham in November they were pretty good, especially the first 40 minutes.”
Japan survived a late fightback by Scotland to secure their place among the World Cup elite. “I thought it was a brilliant game, it lived up to the hype. I was really impressed with how controlled and accurate they were,” Ford said.
“You could see how the momentum shifted between the teams throughout the game, with each team getting on top.”