Gregor Townsend: Guscott is talking rubbish

Thursday 11 March 2010
Published By: Ben Welch
Six Nations > Scotland

Scotland assistant coach Gregor Townsend has rubbished claims by Jeremy Guscott that England's opponents are lacking fitness ahead of this weekend's Six Nations clash.

Guscott said that a lack of stamina was a big factor in Scotland's last-gasp defeat at the Millennium Stadium and also why they failed to beat Italy in Rome, but Townsend said his men are in great shape to contend with any side in the Six Nations.

"Everybody's got their opinion and we certainly know we need a fit side with the game we want to play. We will keep striving to get fitter and fitter but we believe we have a fit bunch of guys just now," Townsend told the Scotsman.

The former fly-half, who appeared alongside Guscott for the British Lions, instead noted that keeping a solid scrum will be a deciding factor in the Calcutta Cup clash.

Stuart Barnes, writing for the Times, said that he expects the Scotland-England clash to be the most exciting game this weekend but predicted that it will not be a pretty affair.

Posted by Ben Welch