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It was a nightmare start for Scotland. Ashley Western

Scotland must improve or go home, warns Townsend

The Scotland head coach doesn’t know why his side lacked ‘energy, accuracy and aggression’ against Ireland.

SCOTLAND MUST GET ‘much, much better’ very quickly or they will miss out on the World Cup quarter-finals, dejected coach Gregor Townsend warned after they were soundly beaten by Ireland.

Ireland romped home 27-3, scoring the only four tries in the match for a bonus-point win to be level with Japan at the top of Pool A after their opening games.

Townsend was at a loss to explain why his side lacked the ‘energy, accuracy and aggression’ required at World Cup level.

“That’s what we’re asking each other. The energy wasn’t as high as it has to be to beat a team like Ireland. We just missed the start of that game which was very disappointing,” he said.

“We need to win our next three games. We have to bounce back and be a lot better against Samoa and carry that on to Russia and especially Japan who started the tournament well.”

The coach said there was ‘disappointment obviously’ at the Scotland effort.

“We have to play much, much better in our next three games if we are going to make it out of our pool,” he said.

“We feel the game we play can pressure the opposition when accurate. It’s a game that involves running the ball, kicking and defence and all those aspects have to be much better if we are to progress into the quarter-finals.”

Townsend was left sweating on the availability of flanker Hamish Watson, who was stretchered from the field with a knee injury.

He was to undergo scans overnight which would determine whether he would take further part in the tournament.

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    Mute DJ Dave Wexford
    Favourite DJ Dave Wexford
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 7:54 PM

    looks like he’s got no where else Togo

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    Mute IrishOwl
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 7:01 PM

    He’s had a lot of free time for the last 3 years !!

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    Mute Barry Evans
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 6:54 PM

    players like this are a cancer on the game

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    Mute Irishoversea
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 6:58 PM

    It’s not his fault clubs are so stupid it was well known what he was like before he signed for Spurs what type of player he was and they still gave him £100,000 a week for 4 years..

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    Mute I LOVE MY COUNTY
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 7:18 PM

    Barry, that’s a narrow minded comment.
    Football is a job at the end of the day.
    Adebayor has effectively managed himself into a situation that’s known as a “handy number” where I’m from!
    He’s now paid more to do less than when he first started working in his life.
    He’s not a cancer on the game.
    The broadcasters, UEFA, FIFA, etc are the problem here. Adebayor is simply an employee riding out the Celtic Tiger years of football.
    Good on him

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    Mute Beano
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:00 PM

    Yep I’m with Adebayor on this. Not his fault the club gave him a massive contract. I just don’t get why the club don’t offer to pay up his contract rather than having him still on the payroll

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    Mute philip murphy
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:00 PM

    Ah Barry. Poor comment bud. Or at least try back it up…

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 8:10 PM

    Beano, the funny thing is they did try to buy out his contract bit he wanted more than they were willing to pay

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    Mute Justin Lyon
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 7:32 PM

    Waster ! Many a player out there who’s career has ended early because of injury, he’ll try and get his contract terminated next

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    Mute Irishoversea
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 7:40 PM

    He’s willing to play they won’t play him.. I don’t blame him for not moving no other club are stupid enough to give him £100,000 a week so he has every right to see it out..

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    Mute Damien McCormick
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    Sep 4th 2015, 1:10 AM

    When he spoke to villa , he supposedly looked for a sign off God for him to sign – to top it off he wanted his contract paid in full by Spurs – yes , Fifa , Sky and UEFA have caused this but adeboyer is a waste too

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    Mute Sean Flanagan
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    Sep 3rd 2015, 9:59 PM

    I sense another lengthy Facebook post coming…

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