Scotland players 'owe' Townsend, says 'angry' Tuipulotu

Captain Sione Tuipulotu is still angry about Scotland's missed opportunities in the Autumn Nations Series and says the players owe it to Gregor Townsend to deliver success.

Scotland earned two wins from four in November, against the lesser lights of the USA and Tonga, but came up short in their two meaningful tests against New Zealand and Argentina.

"After doing a bit of reflection, I'm still angry," Tuipulotu said.

"And that's okay - why shouldn't I be angry? I care about winning for Scotland and I know the players do as well.

"I think it's about taking that anger into Glasgow games and coming in as best form as I possibly can into the Six Nations so after that tournament, I'm not as angry.

"The most important thing for the group is to know that my feeling coming out of those two games is the feeling of what we're chasing is closer than what we think.

"It's important we take the lessons we needed to learn after that Argentina game specifically. And I think maybe that needed to happen, for us to address what's possibly been either holding us back, or also just be realistic and accept our flaws of what we've done wrong.

"Stand there as a team, as players, as individuals and say what I did wrong as a captain or what we did wrong as a playing group for us not to get those results.

"And I felt like we did that in the last week and looked at each other honestly. We can't prove that's solved anything until we get to the Six Nations and we understand that completely."

Townsend came under intense pressure after the collapse from 21-0 up in the loss to Argentina, though Scottish Rugby chief Alex Williamson said the head coach retains the full support of the union.

Tuipulotu believes the Scotland players are motivated to deliver success for Townsend and his coaching staff.

"Going through the hard times and the good times with the coach makes it more enjoyable when you do get to the good times," said the Glasgow centre.

"When we've gone through this tough period of the autumn, now I want nothing more than for us and for Gregor is to have a good Six Nations.

"I feel like you owe it to them a little bit as well. There's so much work that goes on behind the scenes and you see the coaches go through so much detail and stuff like that and you realise how much pressure is on the coaches.

"I just want to take a little bit of accountability through the playing group and we are responsible for these victories and losses.

"I just feel like it's time for us now to pay back the coaching staff for getting us into this position."