"Time to go" - Scotland fans call out 'criminal' error from head coach Gregor Townsend
Rugby NewsSaturday, 07 February 2026 at 14:54
Scotland supporters were quick to vent their fury at Gregor Townsend after what many labelled a
“criminal” selection call backfired in spectacular fashion.
The head coach raised eyebrows before kick-off by leaving out Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe from his starting back three — despite all three impressing on last summer’s British & Irish Lions tour.
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Townsend’s gamble unraveled early. Scotland stumbled through an error-strewn first half, conceding two early tries and failing to fire in attack, prompting a tidal wave of reaction from frustrated fans online.
One supporter summed up the mood perfectly:
“So dropping your three Lions players in the back three is working out for Gregor Townsend… NOT.”
Another post pulled no punches:
“Can someone tell Townsend that maybe we should’ve just played van der Merwe, Graham, or even Kinghorn? This is like watching a train crash in slow motion for Scotland.”
Others were already anticipating some uncomfortable post-match questions for the head coach.
“I think Gregor Townsend is gonna be asked about the absence of Kinghorn, Van der Merwe, and Graham cuz it’s not looking good so far,” wrote one fan.
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And perhaps the most damning verdict of all came in a blunt assessment:
“Duhan van der Merwe has been a big miss for Scotland.”
With Scotland struggling for spark and cohesion, Townsend’s experimental call looks set to dominate the post-match fallout — and patience among the Tartan Army appears to be wearing very thin.
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