Townsend looks to Calcutta Cup for Scottish salvation

For Gregor Townsend, it has been the Calcutta Cup of life; now, a meeting with the Auld Enemy could hasten his end.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE IN EDINBURGH

When Steve Borthwick leapt to the defence of his embattled opposite number earlier this week, suggesting that Scottish fans should be more focused on supporting their side against England than calling for the head coach to go, it betrayed a strange truth about Townsend's tenure.

The former fly-half has transformed the narrative in this fixture, taking over a side that had failed to win any of their last nine meetings with England, and losing just twice in eight Calcutta Cups since. It is a striking and significant turnaround. But the frustration - of which there is much, particularly after a wretched defeat to Italy - stems from the fact that it has failed to be a part of something larger.

As Borthwick pointed out, Townsend boasts the best winning percentage of any Scottish coach of the modern era. But that is not championship-winning form, and this has not been a championship-winning Scottish side, despite their success against England. Indeed, they've not even managed to mount a true title challenge - a so-called golden generation of players has not yet even settled for silver.

“It’s only really on days like this where you have to experience it because it’s such a busy job,” Townsend said of the outside noise yesterday, admitting he understood the frustration of the fans. “You fill every minute of the day with reviewing what we could have done better, going into selection, going into training.