Gregor Townsend has claimed reports he is to take over at Newcastle after the 2027 World Cup are an attempt to “disrupt” Scotland before the Six Nations.
The 52-year-old took on a consultancy role with Red Bull, who own Newcastle, last year and it was reported on Thursday that Townsend will take charge of the Prem club when his contract with Scotland expires after next year’s World Cup in Australia.
“Well, it’s pure speculation,” the head coach said at a press conference in Edinburgh on Thursday after naming his team to face Italy on Saturday. “I’ve not signed a contract beyond the World Cup with anybody, so it’s a story that I think is being put out there to try to disrupt ahead of this game or next week’s game against England.
“It’s just something that comes out, things like this, I think ahead of the England game in particular. But yeah, there’s no truth in that I’ve signed a contract beyond the World Cup. My focus is on the Scotland team right now and hopefully up until the World Cup.”
Asked if he was concerned such stories may have a negative impact on his squad, Townsend said: “No, not at all.”
Townsend has made the bold call to drop what has generally been his first-choice back three in recent seasons for the clash in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, with Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe out of the 23 altogether and Darcy Graham on the bench.
Bristol’s Tom Jordan gets the nod at full-back, with the in-form Glasgow pair Jamie Dobie and Kyle Steyn preferred on the wings to Scotland’s record-try scorer Van der Merwe and Graham, who is second on that list.
“Blair, Duhan and Darcy have had some terrific games for us and they’re very proud of playing for Scotland,” said Townsend. “But there’s competition in that back-three area like there is in other positions and we feel Jamie, Kyle and Tom deserve their starts given how well they’ve been playing.
“I feel all three of them individually have taken games to the opposition. But the three players that weren’t selected, they’re quality players. If or when they get back into the squad or they get an opportunity off the bench, like Darcy will on Saturday, we know we’re going to have hungry players desperate to get back in the starting team. But for now, we’re really pleased with that back three, how they’ve been playing but also how they’ve been combining in training.”
Townsend has otherwise selected a familiar lineup, with nine of the XV having started on the last visit to Rome in March 2024, when Scotland crashed to a dismal 31-29 defeat. The head coach admitted memories of that match will “sharpen the minds” of his players.
“We know what Italy can do when they have that crowd energy behind them,” he said. “They’re two years further on in their development too and they are a cohesive team. A lot of that backline have played together, they’ve got some quality forwards. They beat Australia in November so it’s one of the toughest teams now to play in world rugby.”
Elsewhere, Wales have named Louis Rees-Zammit at full-back to take on England as they try to arrest a run in which they have failed to win a Six Nations match since 2023. Rees-Zammit has not played in the tournament for three years, announcing his decision to leave rugby union for an 18-month spell in the NFL on the eve of the 2024 competition.
The 25-year-old Bristol player made his Wales comeback in the autumn, but this will be only his fourth start at full-back in 36 Tests.
“I love it. It allows me to get more touches on the ball in open field, it suits my game,” Rees-Zammit said about playing full-back in a pre-tournament interview with the BBC. “I much prefer it. I’ve played 15 in the past for Wales, but I think now I’m kind of seen as a 15 that can play on the wing.”
Saturday’s match will be the first time Rees-Zammit has played at Twickenham for Wales. On paper it looks a mismatch, with Wales having lost 21 of their last 23 Tests and England winning 11 in a row. Wales have finished bottom of the Championship for the last two years. Steve Tandy, the Wales head coach, said: “Wales v England is always a special game with all the history behind the fixture. We know they’re playing some outstanding rugby and they’re in great form. But I know how much it means to our players playing for the nation and representing Wales. The way the squad trained this week has been great. I want to see us get out and really attack the game on Saturday and give the best account of ourselves.”
