BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions. Tom answered: Well, I don't think he'll be spending less time on the Scotland job. If Scotland have a bad autumn, a bad Six Nations and a bad summer then I'm not wholly convinced he makes it to the World Cup.
BBC Scotland's chief sportswriter Tom English has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions.
Andrew asked: After seven years of winning nothing and failing to qualify from a World Cup group, are we all just assuming that Gregor Townsend spending less time [focussing] on the Scotland job isn't going to hurt us?
Tom answered: Well, I don't think he'll be spending less time on the Scotland job. It's a 30-day commitment, but the optics of this Red Bull/Newcastle link are not good at all and he's put more pressure on himself by doing this. If Scotland have a bad autumn, a bad Six Nations and a bad summer then I'm not wholly convinced he makes it to the World Cup.
On your 'winning nothing' point. What do we expect Scotland to win? Ireland and France are better than Scotland. They just are. Expecting some third-place finishes is not unreasonable, I think. It hasn't happened often enough.
Both of his World Cups have been really poor. It's not so much that they got knocked out in the group stage both times, it's that they didn't compete in the biggest games. The heat is on Townsend even more so after that announcement last week. People don't like him having a sideline gig and I can see why.
Doug asked: Franco Smith said we may have to be patient for the next couple of seasons as we build our Scots-qualified depth. Last weekend however seemed a particularly poor episode in game management, like that Ospreys match at Scotstoun last season. We possibly have some unrealistic expectations as Warriors fans but do you think there could be lean seasons ahead or do you think with a little luck with injuries Glasgow can still compete in the URC?
Tom answered: Last weekend was pretty weird. I think all of the Glasgow players were a bit lost for words about how they let that game slip, albeit Benetton are a good side who will take a few scalps at home I suspect.
Patience is advised because they've lost a few important players but my view is that Glasgow will still be very close to the top four if not in the top four. The squad is still strong and there are a lot of young players emerging fast. And Franco Smith is an outstanding coach and mentor.
You're right about injuries. They haven't had much luck on that front - and they'll need a bit more luck this season. It's important they bounce back emphatically against the Dragons and the Ospreys in the next two games.
Harry asked: What would enable Edinburgh to be more competitive while international players are away on Scotland duty? Clubs like Leinster and Bath continue to dominate their games without key players. Is it simply a case of squad depth?
Tom answered: When it comes to Edinburgh, it's a lot of things. It's coaching, its squad depth, it's mental strength, it's leadership, it's basic hunger and desire, it's discipline. Edinburgh can struggle to beat opponents they should be beating even when they have a full squad to pick from. Scotland internationals, Lions, promising young players - and still they lose too many games.
It's the entire culture at Edinburgh that's wrong. It has to be. Their problems have been going on too long under too many different coaches. How do you fix a culture? That's not an easy one to address. There's just something wrong in the bones of Edinburgh Rugby and it's been wrong for a long time. It needs root and branch examination.
Category: General Sports