Townsend Zooming with Red Arrows and Finn
IT’S difficult to escape lockdown. Even for the head coach of Scotland. Here, in a wide-ranging interview, Gregor Townsend tells
Sportsmail’s Rugby Correspondent Rob Robertson how he has been dealing with the current crisis, his views on what comes next and his hopes for the future...
So, Gregor, what have you been doing during lockdown?
It has been a good opportunity for us to learn as coaches. It is a unique opportunity in that almost every coach around the world is available to do a Zoom session or Skype or whatever.
The session we had with the Belgium coaches was excellent. Roberto Martinez led that but he had others there as well, so we got the wider learning than just head coach to head coach. We have also been on with Toronto Blue Jays and their staff and we had about 30 on that call.
Probably the most interesting one, because it was different, was with the Red Arrows last week. It was about three days before they did the fly past over London.
Their leader and another member of the crew talked about what they do in training, how they debrief training, and that was fascinating.
They have a process that has worked for them for over 50 years. If they get something wrong in the process it could mean life or death, so they have to make sure in the review sessions that the detail and collaboration of the group is spot on.
Their performance is a lot about people following exact routines. Our game at times can be like that, whether it’s a lineout or a scrum. Our game also is about decision-making and people making their own calls on things.
How much contact during lockdown have you had with Finn Russell and is he still fully back on board?
Yeah, I would hope so. We’ll see. I’m in more regular contact with the midfielders, the No 10s and the centres, and he’s very much part of that group.
We’ve had a few conversations over this period. We’re all waiting to see what happens when rugby does resume, but I’m sure he’ll be very much in our thoughts and let’s hope he’s keen to play.
What plans are in place to keep a check on the mental health of players during the current crisis?
It’s really about connection and making sure you see any signs if a player is struggling in any way.
There are some players who will have got into very good routines and have family support around them, and they will view this period as a positive to recover physically and see their families more, and learn more about other things.
But there will be others struggling for direction or motivation or who start to feel down. We’ve got to make sure all of us in the coaching staff and management are aware if anyone is struggling and keep connected to players as much as possible.
It’s really important that we create a safe environment for players to talk about any issue they have. Doing that through the years has been tough, and it’s been good to hear retired players talk about their mental health. I just wish the players would talk more about it and share any burden they have during their playing careers.
And what happens when lockdown is over?
The priority has to be getting the players ready to play. Once we get the green light and the advice from public health allows the players to come back to train, that will initially be done on an individual basis and small groups.
It’s two months now that the players haven’t played rugby or trained properly. Some are lucky because they have gym equipment, but others haven’t. Whether that takes eight to 12 weeks, it is important that our players are in the best physical condition to go back into a very physical sport.
nThere is talk of playing games behind closed doors to begin with. Do you support such a plan?
If that means no supporters, and that’s the guidance, that’s a down side but we would want to get back to playing. There’s innovative ways of perhaps creating atmosphere at games.
I remember Arsenal when they were rebuilding Highbury many years ago had cardboard cut-outs behind the goals and I think Northampton Saints have similar ideas for when they get back playing. For our supporters, who will want to see our teams, whether that’s Glasgow, Edinburgh or Scotland, having the games televised would be a massive step forward.
There is a lot of talk about lockdown being a time when people can put their heads together and try to improve the game. If there was one change you could make what would it be?
Make scrums reset quicker. Look at some of the games in the past and the scrums were already formed before the ball was ready to be put in. Getting the scrums reset quicker would be very good for teams that want to play quicker and want to have more ball-in-play time and also better for fans.
There are attempts to co-ordinate the world rugby calendar between northern and southern hemisphere nations when the game resumes. Thoughts on that?
I’m excited about the potential changes to the season and making it more aligned.
I’ve been a supporter of rugby moving to a summer sport. We live in the most northerly country in the rugby world and we play a winter sport that competes against football, the biggest sport on the planet. If there’s a way for us to be playing in the summer and align the season with the Southern Hemisphere, I’d be all for that.
When do you expect Scotland to play again?
The tour to South Africa and New Zealand in July is likely to be cancelled and on top of that our players haven’t trained for two months and won’t be back in training in the next several days or weeks.
Let’s hope they get to play as club players as soon as possible and international rugby whenever that is possible.
What new players do you expect to have available ahead of the next Six Nations?
Edinburgh winger Duhan van der Merwe is available now through residency. I have spoken with Duhan at various points this season and in the last couple of weeks. He is an excellent player.
His work off the ball has been excellent and his defence has been up there as well. He is quick, he’s strong, he makes a lot of line breaks and tackle breaks and he is a young player who will get better the more he plays.
Duhan is available now then Oli Kebble (prop at Glasgow) is available in October and Jaco van der Walt (Edinburgh fly-half) in the middle of November also through residency. Oli has been a regular in the team at Glasgow and Jaco will be competing hard for a place at No 10 and they are three players that could certainly play international rugby.
And, finally, if and when it comes, can Scotland win the 2021 Six Nations?
We have to have that view. I have seen the playing group we have get better. This year, we saw how close we came to winning all four games. We only won two but we had chances in the Ireland game and then the England game.
It’s been a unique opportunity for coaches to share different ideas We’ve had a few conversations and I’m hoping that he’s keen to play