Scotland rugby head coach Gregor Townsend has voiced his disappointment regarding Steve Clarke's resignation as Scotland manager. Clarke stepped down following the national football team's elimination from the World Cup. Townsend, who was present in Boston to witness Scotland's opening 1-0 victory against Haiti, described the experience as a "high" but acknowledged the swift shift to "crushing lows" that followed.
Townsend and Clarke had maintained contact, exchanging messages and ideas. Townsend met with Clarke and his family in Boston after the Haiti match. "I am obviously disappointed for Steve that he's no longer our manager," Townsend stated. "He always messaged me before games. I met him and his family after the Haiti game. It was great just chatting to him and his family. So I wish him all the very best in whatever he decides to do in the future."
The rugby coach reflected on the nature of international coaching, noting the intense scrutiny and the inherent highs and lows. "That's sport," Townsend commented. "We know when we go into it, the highs and lows of winning and losing are there, no matter what level you coach at. You're scrutinised more, whether you're at a big club or especially at an international level."
Townsend drew parallels between the experiences of the football and rugby teams, emphasizing the passion of supporters and the impact national teams have on people's lives. He recounted his own experience attending the World Cup, describing the "optimism and joy" surrounding the Haiti game and feeling a sense of pride in the nation's presence on the world stage after a 36-year absence.
The conversation with Townsend also touched upon the upcoming Nations Championship matches for the Scotland rugby team, beginning with a match against Argentina. He acknowledged the pain of a previous loss to Argentina in November and the challenging environment of playing away from home. The team will face Argentina without Finn Russell, who is being rested for the initial match but is expected to be fit for the following game against South Africa.
"We have three big Test matches against quality sides, two of which are away from home," Townsend said of the new competition. "I think once you get to November, you start looking ahead in terms of what a win would mean, where would you play the final weekend? But for now, our challenge is just Argentina and the threats they bring and how we get our game in place straight away."