GREGOR TOWNSEND yesterday revealed that Pep Guardiola is his coaching hero.
The Scotland rugby supremo admitted his huge admiration for the Manchester City guru as he stepped up preparations for his first home-turf showdown.
Townsend’s troops square up to Samoa at Murrayfeld in next month’s Autumn Test series opener before facing world champs New Zealand and Australia.
And the former Glasgow chief said Guardiola is a major inspiration in his professional life.
Townsend declared: “My aim is to create a Scotland team full of work-rate, energy and speed.
"Defence and work-rate defines winning teams.
“People watch Guardiola's attack more than his defence.
"But at Barcelona he had a rule to win back the ball quickly.
“They started at seven seconds, and then it went down to three seconds.
"I visited Barcelona a few years back, and they had these drills to regain possession quickly.
"What people see are the great passes and the goals.
“What we don't see is how they got the ball in the first place.
"Defence is linked to the attack."
Townsend, who guided Glasgow to the PRO12 crown three seasons ago, added: ”You've got to build a game plan that helps you win games – that's what the players want.
"If the laws of the game and the strength of the personnel meant having to kick and defending, then I would probably – reluctantly – do that.
"But the strength of the Scottish team is work-rate, energy, speed.
“The laws just now have opened up to help attacks, so that is a massive part of winning games."
Townsend booted out the commonly held view that Scotland have failed to compete at the top level because is is such a small nation.
He insisted: “We actually have advantages.
“We can identify our best players easier and get them to a pro team environment quicker.
"We are making that advantage count by encouraging much more attacking rugby at age-group level now.
"That has permeated through Scottish rugby.
“Players now look to offload rather than kick - and at a younger level they are not worried about the scoreboard.
“Then when they progress through the levels they find a way to win.”
Townsend also underlined the need to harvest more qualified talent outside Scotland.
He went on: “There are more and more top quality players coming through – from families who have moved to England.
“We have to make sure we are aware of who they are and that they are aware of the opportunity they have playing for Scotland."
Townsend will today name his squad for the November internationals – after a delay of 24 hours caused by a spate of injuries and the suspensions of Edinburgh pair John Hardie and Magnus Bradbury.
With skipper Greig Laidlaw sidelined with an ankle fracture, the coach is waiting for an update on his likely replacement John Barclay.
The Scarlets flanker has been struggling to shake off the effects of concussion.
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