The China Mail - Pressure on Townsend as Scots face Italy in Six Nations

The 52-year-old has been in his post since 2017, but despite a talented group of players they have failed to reach the last eight in two World Cups and under-performed in the Six Nations.

Their last two campaigns have been especially underwhelming, finishing fourth in both with just two wins in each edition, and last year's was followed by poor results in the autumn.

The defeats by New Zealand and Argentina typified Scotland under Townsend, promising much but failing to seize their chance or building a significant lead and then letting it slip.

They fought back to 17-17 from 17-0 down to the All Blacks, but lost 25-17, and then boos rang out at Murrayfield when having led the Pumas 21-0 with 25 minutes remaining they ended up the wrong side of a 33-24 scoreline.

Townsend signed a new contract back in September but the brutal manner in which New Zealand fired head coach Scott Robertson in January serves as a salutary reminder there is no standing on ceremony if results fail to stack up.

Townsend has also had to cope with the fall-out from a report in Britain's Daily Telegraph he is to take over as Newcastle coach -- he is a part-time consultant to club owners Red Bull -- following the conclusion of the 2027 World Cup.

"There's no truth I've signed the contract beyond the World Cup and my focus is on the Scotland team right now and hopefully up to the World Cup," added Townsend.

"It's a story that is being put out there to try to disrupt ahead of this game or next week's game against England."

- 'A step further' -

Their last visit to Rome in 2024 highlighted again their inability to hold onto a lead.

They led the Italians by 12 points at one stage but again failed to close the game out and lost 31-29.

Veteran prop Pierre Schoeman admits something needs to be done.

"When the momentum shift goes away, limit those mistakes," Schoeman told the BBC.

"Our 22-metre conversion rate has to be better. Our mental resilience and momentum in the last 20 minutes has to be better as well.

"We have to be better at closing games out," added the 31-year-old, who will play in his 21st successive Six Nations match on Saturday

Townsend has certainly been bold in his team selection for the Italy game -- a clash of the only two sides not to have won the Six Nations title since it came into being in 2000.

Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland's joint top try-scorer of all time with 29, and British and Irish Lions full-back Blair Kinghorn fail to even make the matchday 23.

Darcy Graham, who shares the try scoring record with van der Merwe, is only on the bench.

Tom Jordan starts at full-back, in place of Kinghorn, flanked by Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie.

Steyn and Dobie are two of nine Glasgow players in the starting 15 -- a reward for the team's fine form this season in both the European Champions Cup and the United Rugby Championship.

Whilst the Scots have a potent attacking threat across the backs their opponents are without twinkle-toed Ange Capuozzo, who has a broken finger.

However, the side has plenty of experience -- lock Andrea Zambonin is the only member of the scrum with fewer than 30 caps -- and three of them will reach the 50-cap landmark against the Scots.

One of those, captain Michele Lamaro, says his side's goal is to be more consistent -- crucial as they face three matches on successive weekends.

"We've seen when we're at our best, we can actually compete against anyone," said Lamaro.

"But at the same time, to be able to be at our best every single time, you have to go a step further.

"So that's one of our main objectives, especially for the Six Nations campaign."

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K.Lam--ThChM