Sir Clive Woodward has delivered a stinging rebuke of Gregor Townsend’s new role with Red Bull – insisting that he should focus on his day job as Scotland head coach.
Townsend has chosen to pursue a part-time consultancy role with Red Bull and will help shape their rugby strategy, with English Premiership side Newcastle being the only club in their portfolio at present.
The controversial move was announced a few weeks ago, swiftly on the back of Townsend agreeing a new contract to remain in charge of Scotland until the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
He will spend a maximum of 30 days per year engaged in his duties with Red Bull and has already visited their facilities in Austria, as well spending time at Newcastle’s Kingston Park earlier this month.
Townsend has refuted any claims of taking his eye off the ball or there being a conflict of interest, with Red Bull long-term admirers and keen to employ him in a coaching position in future.
He also denied any influence in Newcastle’s recruitment, but Daily Mail Sport understands the English club are pressing ahead with plans to sign Scotland scrum-half Ben White to beat off competition from Edinburgh.
Gregor Townsend has defended his decision to take on a second job with Red Bull
However, Sir Clive Woodward said that Scotland should have been Townsend’s sole focus
Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Sport, Woodward believes that Townsend’s decision to link-up with Red Bull has only heaped more pressure and scrutiny on his position with Scotland.
‘Scotland still haven’t won anything with their golden generation of players and the worry I have for them is the next cohort doesn’t look anywhere near as talented,’ said England’s World Cup-winning head coach.
‘Scotland have struggled at Under-20 level in recent years and that doesn’t bode well.
‘Gregor Townsend is under pressure after agreeing to work for Red Bull alongside his current role with Scotland. He’d have been better off concentrating on his day job.’
Scotland will begin their autumn campaign at Murrayfield tomorrow against the USA, with three more matches to come against New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga.
The issue with Townsend has overshadowed preparations and will continue to cast a cloud over the national team unless results improve.
Even without the likes of Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn and the rest of the players not based in Scotland, they will start as red-hot favourites to beat a USA team ranked No 15 in the world.
Duhan van der Merwe will win his 50th cap for the Scots and Townsend believes there is plenty more to come from the giant winger, who is looking to bounce back from a poor Lions tour in the summer.
The South Africa-born wing made his debut against Georgia in October 2020 and has since amassed 32 tries in 49 appearances, setting a new record for the national team.
Townsend has enjoyed watching Van der Merwe emerge as a talismanic figure for his team and he expects the 30-year-old to go on and win many more caps as well as scoring more tries.
‘Duhan has created so many special moments,’ he said. ‘It’s hard to believe that his debut was just five years ago.
‘To get 50 caps within that five years shows how important he’s been for us in terms of being selected whenever he’s been available, his own consistency and durability, and how he has evolved his game.
‘When he first came in, he was a great ball-carrier who needed to develop his defence, which he has done. He’s been a defence leader now for the last couple of seasons.
‘He has worked really hard on his contact area and I think last season showed his ability to put others into space, so his game is growing, it needs to keep growing like all our players, but it’s great that we’ve had him for the last five years and there’s a lot more to come.’
With English and French-based players like Russell, White, Kinghorn and Tom Jordan unavailable for selection until the visit of New Zealand next weekend, Townsend has opted for an experimental line-up, interspersed with senior players like Van der Merwe, Darcy Graham, Jack Dempsey and Scott Cummings.
Edinburgh’s Liam McConnell, 21, will make his debut at blindside flanker, while Edinburgh hooker Harri Morris, 24, is handed the chance to win his first cap off the bench.
‘We’ve selected Liam on what he’s been doing with Edinburgh, but also his potential,’ said Townsend. ‘Liam really impressed us back in the under-20s and whenever we’ve had him in our environment, it’s his aggression and his effort.
‘He was one of the fittest players coming through Edinburgh’s pre-season, so he’s put in the work and now he’s getting the rewards.’
