World Cup chance behind Townsend's Scotland extension

Gregor Townsend says the motivation of another Rugby World Cup contributed to his decision to extend his contract as Scotland head coach until 2027.

With the 52-year-old's deal expiring in April next year, there had been speculation that Newcastle Red Bulls were looking at the Scot as a potential director of rugby.

But Scottish Rugby confirmed on Wednesday that Townsend is stay until the end of the next World Cup in Australia.

"Being Scotland head coach is a massive honour and true privilege," Townsend said.

"The opportunity to coach my country at another Rugby World Cup is exciting and I am hugely motivated to help the team perform to its potential.

"Over recent years I have been really encouraged by the progress the team has made. There is a real belief within the squad that they can achieve special things and I can't wait to work with them again to help make this happen."

With his first Test as coach coming in the summer of 2017, Townsend is already Scotland's longest-serving international coach in the professional era.

And, of those still in position, he is the longest-serving tier-one coach in the world. He has overseen 94 Tests, winning 53, losing 40 and drawing one, the epic 38-38 at Twickenham in 2019.

With four games at Murrayfield in the autumn - the United States, New Zealand, Argentina and Tonga - Townsend's 100th Test as Scotland coach will come in the second round of the Six Nations in February - against England in Edinburgh.

He has achieved some notable victories in his years at the helm, a first in Paris in 22 years, a first at Twickenham in 38, four Calcutta Cups in a row for the first time since 1970 and four wins in five Tests against Australia.

Scotland's capacity to play scintillating rugby has had its reward in that the contingent of Scots selected for British and Irish Lions tours has risen sharply since Townsend took over.

In the five tours pre-Townsend, Scotland's representation in the original squad numbered three, three, two, three and two.

In the two Lions tours since Townsend took charge, eight Scots were original picks on each, with a battery of others called up during the tour, mostly notably under Andy Farrell in Australia this summer.

Ben White, Darcy Graham, Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Gregor Brown all saw game-time.

Scotland have improved on Townsend's watch, but there is nothing tangible to show for it and, while it is hard to gauge these things, there is definite support out there for an overhaul.

Eight years - which is now set to become 10 years - is a mammoth innings and his critics have grown over time.

Those Scotland fans who have been seeking change would have been hopeful of Glasgow's Franco Smith stepping into the role. There is a feeling among that group of supporters that the team has stagnated under Townsend in recent seasons.

For all of the fine one-off wins, Scotland have never properly challenged for a Six Nations title, with just two third-place finishes in eight attempts and an average finishing position of fourth.

The team has become hugely entertaining on its best days - hence the remarkable number of sell-outs at Murrayfield - but there has not been the depth of squad and consistency to contend.

Townsend took them to a record high of fifth in the world, but they now rank eighth following their defeat by Fiji in Suva in the summer.

He has also failed at two successive World Cups, exiting in the pool stage in Japan in 2019 and again in France in 2023.

Unquestionably, making up for such disappointment is part of why Townsend wants to stay on. That, and never having gone to the wire in the Six Nations, will leave him with a feeling of unfinished business.

The World Cup draw takes place in December and this time around it will feature six groups of four teams, with the top six in the world rankings heading up each group.

That is good news for Townsend as he seeks to get out of a group for the first time.

In France in 2023, they suffered a horror draw when pitched-in with South Africa (the holders) and Ireland (at the time, the world number one), with only the top two qualifying.

Even with a world ranking of eight, in the new 24-nation format, Scotland could not be landed with a similar pool of death in Australia.

They would be seeded second in the group, with the two top countries, plus the four best third-place teams across all groups, making it to the last 16 knockouts.

That is a friendlier landscape for Scotland and a more appealing one for Townsend.

Now that his future is secure, the planning begins for the autumn, the marquee Test being that visit by the All Blacks on 8 November.

Townsend has had two cracks at them as coach, a five-point loss in 2017 and an eight-point loss in 2022.

In 32 Tests, Scotland have drawn two and lost 30 against the All Blacks. If history was made at Murrayfield, those who oppose his reappointment might fade away.