ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SRU’S GRAND PLAN

SO Gregor Townsend will be the next Scotland head coach. Is that a surprise?

Not really. It was wellknown that the contracts of both Townsend and Cotter — and his entire Scotland backroom staff — were due to run out in June 2017 and the Glasgow Warriors head coach was being lined up to take over. It was always a question of when the announcement would be made. The SRU have made it public ahead of their AGM at Murrayfield on Saturday — where they would, inevitably, have been asked about the contract situation of the Scotland head coach.

BUT if Townsend is the right man for the job, why wait until June next year to let him take over?

A good question. It is likely to come down to money. Getting rid of Cotter and possibly all but one of his four-man backroom team a year early would have cost the SRU approximately £1m. Having Cotter and his assistants sit tight until next summer will save them a big pay-out. There is also a chance that Cotter may even leave early if he finds another job. The SRU will argue that keeping Townsend at Glasgow for one more year won’t make a great deal of difference. He is on their payroll as it is and will be working with a sizeable number of Scotland’s players at his club.

WHAT kind of state will he find the Scotland national team in? Has Vern Cotter done a good job?

Townsend will inherit the nucleus of a very good side. If Cotter did have a fault, it was that his overreliance on players such as Greig Laidlaw meant others — Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, for example — were not given a decent chance to make a mark at international level. As for Cotter leaving, it was more the SRU’s desire to keep Townsend which has led to the New Zealander not having his contract renewed.

AND what of Glasgow Warriors? Who is likely to step into Townsend’s shoes there?

SRU insiders spoken to by Sportsmail have suggested that the two front-runners are Glasgow Warriors’ forwards coach Dan McFarland and their skills coach Mike Blair, the former Scotland captain.

SOUNDS like the SRU have it all sussed. Is there any chance of the wheels coming off next season?

Scotland have three home Six Nations matches, so they should do well under Cotter come what may. There must be concerns, though, over Glasgow’s season as players such as Stuart Hogg are in the final year of their contracts and may not re-sign unless they know who is taking over. There is also a danger some may take their eye off the ball because of the uncertainty.