Townsend on backlash, 'biggest game of season' & Gilchrist

Townsend says he "still believed the team would come back and win" after conceding two quick tries against Italy, but "the rain made it a very different game".

He admits "we obviously did something wrong because we didn't get the win" but he doesn't think the side "unravelled" against the Italians.

On the backlash from defeat in Rome, Townsend says "the feeling of losing is worse than the distraction of people giving their opinions to the group or me as a coach".

He insists "lessons have been learned" from the Autumn Tests, adding the team "showed they were together and connected" in Italy last weekend.

On the "huge" visit of England: "It's our biggest game of the season, it always has been and it's even more important on the back of a disappointing defeat. We know our supporters are behind us, as they always are, and we'll need their energy at the weekend."

On his team selection, Townsend says: "Ewan Ashman being injured is a blow for him, he's been one of our best players over the last couple of seasons."

He adds: "It's a big decision not involving Grant Gilchrist, I can count on one hand the players who have given more in this jersey over the years. But the team we've selected we feel can make a good impact at the start but also going into that final quarter."

Townsend was asked if beating England can turn the tide, replying: "It's up to you guys you set the narrative. That's not really relevant for our team and I imagine not for our supporters. Our supporters want to see us winning and that's what we're trying to do."

Explaining why he has stuck with a 5/3 bench split, the Scotland boss says: "Adam [Hastings] covers 10, so it's someone we know can focus on that role during the week and he has been playing very well. There are gambles going 6-2 with limited cover. We think the weather is going to be dry so there is more opportunity for backs coming on to have an influence."

He adds: "You go into the game with expectations of using the bench but if you don't need to - if players are playing well and there are no injuries - then at times people don't come off the pitch."

Townsend says it was a difficult call not to involve Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn again, but feels the backs deserve another go: "There are reasons we selected that backline and the bench going into Italy and it's the same reasons going into England," he says.

Townsend says Scotland will have to "raise our game" to win on Saturday but disagrees that big performances have only come against England.