Pressure continues to build on Gregor Townsend after Pumas debacle … but defiant head coach insists he’s got NO intention of quitting and still has a big job to do with Scotland

Gregor Townsend insists he has no intention of quitting as Scotland head coach despite a growing number of supporters calling for his resignation.

Townsend’s team were booed off at Murrayfield last weekend after losing 33-24 to Argentina, a match which had seen them blow a 21-point lead by shipping five tries in just over 20 minutes in the second half.

The crowd vented their anger in a fashion rarely witnessed at the national stadium and the defeat only heaped more pressure and scrutiny on Townsend’s position.

Despite signing a new contract recently that runs until the next World Cup in 2027, there is an increasing sense among supporters that Townsend’s eight-year tenure has now run its course.

However, speaking ahead of Sunday’s final autumn clash, with Tonga, the head coach was in defiant mood when asked if he had entertained any thoughts this week of walking away.

‘No, I’ve got a job to do,’ replied Townsend. ‘People are entitled to their opinion. My job is to do the best I can for the team and to work with the team in producing performances our supporters are proud of.

‘If you’ve got a job to do, you do it, and that’s what I’m here to do. If someone wants to not give me that job any more, then that will be up to them.

‘But I’m totally committed in getting the best of the team, the best of myself, and that sometimes means working harder, sometimes means working smarter.

‘I know they [the supporters] were very proud of the performance against New Zealand [despite Scotland losing 25-17] and have been for a number of matches and seasons, because we’re getting record crowds coming along.

‘We’re getting crowds that support our team. But the end of the game was disappointing for them, disappointing for us, and we have to be better.

‘I would expect there’s been criticism, but if you get caught up in any of that, or read it, it’s going to distract you from what is important.’

Pressed on whether he expects his position to be under review at the end of the autumn, Townsend replied: ‘I don’t know. We review every campaign, but you’d have to ask someone else on that.

‘My focus is on how we can review each game, how we can review each campaign, and how we can get better and deliver performances our supporters are going to be proud of.’

Townsend has presided over two failed World Cup campaigns which saw Scotland knocked out of the pool stage on both occasions in 2019 and 2023.

Scotland have also won only two matches in each of the past two Six Nations campaigns, as well as sliding down the world rankings to ninth despite being fifth just over two years ago.

Pressed on whether he has reached the end of the road, he replied: ‘No, I disagree. I’ve seen the team play the best rugby it’s played in the eight years [I’ve been in charge] over the last two or three weeks.

‘We’re very disappointed we didn’t get a win against New Zealand and didn’t get a win against Argentina. We created enough against New Zealand [to win] and we were 21-0 up against Argentina.

‘But to get in those positions, to be 21-0 up, the team is delivering up to that point. Yeah, we sensed the disappointment in the crowd. The crowd, it was like an exhale of disappointment [booing at the end].

‘We all felt it – what a flat end to the game. And nobody’s hurting as much as us as a group. But sometimes those real painful moments as a group that you live through, you come through stronger.

‘Actually, the process this week and how we’ve met, what we’ve resolved, have to be non-negotiables. I know it’ll make us a stronger team. We probably won’t get that opportunity to really test it out.

‘Of course we will this weekend against Tonga, but we won’t get it tested out until the Six Nations.’