RWC 2023 – Gregor Townsend is entitled to seek a new role but the timing is awful for Scotland
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has applied to take over as head coach of France following the Rugby World Cup. It was Pierre Mignoni’s decision to give up his job and stay in Toulon. Townsend’s candidacy is discussed below, along with that of Gonzalo Quesada, Stade Francais coach. But what was mere ripples in France is likely to turn into crashing waves in Scotland, where the end of an era is fast approaching.
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This was the clearest sign that Townsend’s term would end after the Rugby World Cup 2023. No coach has been in charge of Scotland for longer since the sport became professional and no one has a better record of winning. The problem, however, is timing. No one will deny that a Gala player is entitled to take steps to secure a future job if his SRU contract is not renewed after the RWC 2023, but wooing a rival nation so close to the tournament doesn’t look good.
Eight months from now, Scotland will face an all-powerful showdown with South African holders in Marseille in the Group B opener. He has the potential to shape a campaign, and yet the Scottish coaching team appears to be falling apart. Rumors of Zondakh’s early departure emerged on Friday, and his departure was confirmed on Monday.
So goodbye, the man hired to spice up Scotland’s Rugby World Cup attack. More worrying, of course, is Townsend’s status. It’s hard to shake off the impression that the head coach’s credibility will be undermined by the revelation that he “revealed his candidacy” to the French federation. Does he now take on the status of a lame duck? You’d like to think that the playing group respects the boss enough to make his association with France irrelevant, but last year there were signs of cracks.
An unsanctioned party in Edinburgh following the victory over Italy marred the end of the Six Nations, and the inexplicable decision to drop Finn Russell from his original Autumn Series of Nations roster showed that all was not well between coach and opponent. An injury to Adam Hastings led to Russell’s recall and the standoff overtook Blair Kinghorn in the starting lineup for the matches against New Zealand and Argentina, but it was a choice based on the circumstances.
Townsend took time to praise Russell after both games, but the showdown is certainly crucial to the team’s hopes in a Rugby World Cup group that doesn’t have defending champions but also has the world’s number one team, Ireland, as well as Tonga. and Romania.
It’s unknown if Townsend sees it this way, but he can’t help but be impressed with Russell, especially against Argentina, where he put on a bravura in a 52-29 win. The manner of winning gave hope for 2023, but the coach’s alleged infatuation with France has negative potential. This will certainly cast a shadow over his Six Nations line-up announcement due next week and will likely dominate questions about his future.
While the Rugby World Cup is the main event of the year, Townsend goes out of his way to emphasize how important this Six Nations is in and of itself, and not just a warm-up for the fall holiday in France. None of this is good for Scotland and you wonder what Townsend’s treasurers are making out of all this.
While the manager appears to be eyeing new pastures, Mark Dodson continues to serve as chief executive of Scottish rugby until at least June 2025. Last summer, the Scottish Rugby Board unanimously decided to extend Dodson’s contract by another 18 months, which was due to expire in December 2023. For more about knowing Scotland Vs Tonga Tickets.
Dodson has been in this position for over 11 years and knows how to hire and fire employees. Most likely, he throws the net, but there are not enough obvious candidates to replace Townsend. Mike Blair was seen by many as the natural successor, but his reign in Edinburgh is still in its infancy. Franco Smith is making great progress with the Glasgow Warriors, but he is also at the beginning of his project. Dodson is likely to look overseas, but whoever replaces Townsend will have a tough time.
His Test record since taking over in the summer of 2017 has played 61, won 33, drawn and lost 27, for a win percentage of 54, better than any of his predecessors in the pro era. He had notable success against England, winning three and playing one of five Calcutta Cup meetings (including a rare win at Twickenham).
He also ended long winless away streaks against Wales and France and also beat Australia at home (twice) and away. The exit from the 2019 Rugby World Cup group stage was a big disappointment, but Townsend’s alleged connection to France shouldn’t define his reign.
And he should probably be glad he’s not in football. Bobby Robson was heavily criticized by the English tabloid press when it was revealed that he had secured a new job for himself after the 1990 Rugby World Cup in Italy. Robson’s contract was supposed to expire after Italia 90, but when news leaked before the tournament that he had got a gig at PSV Eindhoven, all sorts of infamy erupted.
The intimidating Robson responded by leading England to the Rugby World Cup semi-finals, their best result since 1966, before heading to mainland Europe to resume a successful career in club management. A similar result for Townsend and Scotland in the fall in France would certainly calm some feverish brows.
Rugby World Cup 2023 – Candidates to step in as Scotland winger
The 2023 Six Nations Tournament is just around the corner and injury problems in Scotland are starting to rise. Gregor Townsend has already lost Zander Fagerson and Adam Hastings but must now start looking for a replacement for Darcy Graham after the Scottish winger suffered a knee injury while playing for Edinburgh against Munster. With Graham just entering the mold of his life, he’s going to be a big blunder on the side, so who, if anyone, can take his place?
The candidates to be the Scotland winger
Rufus McLean
Glasgow Warriors striker Rufus McLean is arguably the closest player to replace Graham on the Scottish flank. McLean has the speed to burn, being Glasgow’s fastest player, and he also has the footwork and tricks to match. The former Merchiston Castle boy is also strong defensively, reads the game well and works well with fellow warrior Sione Tuipulotu, who is likely to be active in the tournament this year, showing good form for his club.
At 22, McLean has a bright future ahead of him, but he has already shown he can perform on the big stage, scoring twice in just three matches for his national team. McLean has been named by the Guinness Six Nations as a breakout candidate for Scotland and one to watch for the future, so with a bit of game time this spring he could prove his worth.
Kyle Steyn
South African native Kyle Stein, who qualified for Scotland due to his Glasgow mother, is another warrior to take Graham’s place. Stein made five appearances as a Scottish winger, scoring four goals in his first full international start against Tonga at home. He also has a good track record for his club, scoring 15 tries in 58 games for Glasgow, including one last week when they put the current URC owners, the Stormers, to the sword at Scotstone.
Now captained by Franco Smith to the Warriors, the 28-year-old continues to improve in every aspect of his game. He has a well-thought-out position, a straight run, and he knows how to choose a trajectory. Former player Griquas could be the right man to work as a Scottish winger. For more about knowRugby World Cup.
Blair Kinghorn
Whether Blair Kinghorn will continue to play at age 10, especially after signing Ben Healy, remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain, and that is that it can certainly do the job on the wing. Kinghorn is only 25 but has been a mainstay of Edinburgh since 2015 and Scotland since 2018, with 291 points in 128 games and 97 in 38 respectively.
Although he has been playing flyhalf for his club lately, Kinghorn showed himself on the wing in Edinburgh’s last game against the Zebras, proving his positional versatility on the pitch and his willingness to play wherever he is needed. While he may return as a playmaker at Edinburgh, there is a need for a Scottish striker and the 6ft 4 all-rounder could simply put back on the number 14 shirt.
Sean Maitland
With over 100 caps for the Saracens and over 50 for Scotland, the answer to winger Gregor Townsend’s problem may lie in Sean Maitland’s form. The New Zealand-born defender has been part of the BT Murrayfield team for ten years, making his debut in 2013 at the Six Nations. He made 15 tries for white in blue, the last of which came in a home win against France in 2020. Of the 14 games he has scored, Scotland have only lost once and it was the first game Maitland won in 2013. In every game he has scored since Scotland have won.
Maitland brings with him a wealth of experience and can also cover all positions in the back three. He scored in European Cup finals and successive Rugby World Cup tournaments and even wore the red jersey of the British and Irish Lions. Fans know what kind of Scottish winger you get with Sean Maitland and the 34-year-old striker still has a lot of energy to make this spring a success.
A desperate need for a Scotland winger
It’s been a torrid time in Scotland lately due to injuries and the list seems to keep growing. Their power is straining deep down and with a powerhouse like Darcy Graham on the sidelines, Scotland’s new winger needs to take charge and perform at the highest level. This is especially true with the Rugby World Cup 2023 coming up later this year and the 2023 Guinness World Record starting next month.
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