SRU bosses must start the hunt for Townsend's successor now

Scotland can't afford to get their next head coach appointment wrong, and that means resisting the temptation to simply hand the job to Franco Smith.

You may strongly disagree and feel he should be appointed given the great work he is doing with Glasgow Warriors. The weekend win over Benetton kept them top of the United Rugby Championship, and they face the Bulls at Scotstoun in the last 16 of the Champions Cup this weekend.

He may well end up getting the job, but Scottish Rugby chief executive Alex Williamson and performance director David Nucifora should not be too hasty in making a final decision.

They should be starting their search now - there is only one Six Nations before the next World Cup - and have a duty to cast the net worldwide, because being Scotland's head coach is a top job that many will want.

Smith will, understandably, be the name at the top of the list of many fans, and of course, what he has achieved with Glasgow Warriors demands respect.

He has built a winning culture, developed players, and delivered the URC league title after a play-off final win over the Bulls in June 2024. On the surface, he appears to be the obvious choice, but the SRU cannot treat this as a straightforward promotion.

The national job is a different challenge entirely, and one that demands a thorough search. Williamson and Nucifora have a responsibility to explore every credible option before making a decision that will shape the national side's direction for years to come.

At least they already have a great candidate in Smith waiting in the wings, but there will be others. Indeed, one other candidate emerged and strengthened his case this week. It is a Scotsman who has a top job in New Zealand who deserves to be on the shortlist alongside Smith, and I am not talking about former Scotland captain and ex-Edinburgh head coach Mike Blair, who has been named as the new All Blacks attack coach.

The rise of Clark Laidlaw, son of 1984 Grand Slam legend Roy and cousin of former Scotland captain Greig, as head coach of the Wellington-based Hurricanes in New Zealand has gone largely unnoticed at home, but it should not be.

For a Scottish coach to take charge of a Super Rugby franchise has never happened before. New Zealand rugby is unforgiving. Coaches are judged quickly and ruthlessly. Laidlaw has not just survived. He has thrived.

Under his leadership over the last two-and-a-half years, the Hurricanes have reached the play-offs and made a strong start to this season. They currently sit at the top of the Super Rugby Pacific standings after an impressive 52-14 weekend win over the Queensland Reds. He is working daily with elite players, including All Blacks such as the world-class Jordie Barrett, and operating in one of the most demanding coaching environments in the world.

The coaching CV of the proud Scotsman from Jedburgh extends well beyond just the Hurricanes. Success with New Zealand Sevens includes a World Cup win, Commonwealth Games gold, and a World Series title, underlining his ability to build winning teams and manage high-performance environments.

Timing is also in his favour when it comes to his availability. He is doing such a great job that the Wellington club has extended his contract for one more year. His new deal runs out in the summer of 2027, so he would be available to take over from Townsend as Scotland begins a new cycle after the World Cup.

None of this is to diminish Smith’s credentials. But it does underline a simple point. Scottish Rugby have options and strong ones apart from him that Williamson and Nucifora must take into consideration.

Having an embarrassment of coaching riches in itself marks a shift. For years, Scottish coaches were largely confined to the domestic game.

Sir Ian McGeechan and Jim Telfer were the big beasts of Scottish coaching for their work with Scotland and the British and Irish Lions. Not many went abroad, although former Scotland coach Richie Dixon coached Georgia in the 2011 World Cup.

Now, a new generation is building reputations across the globe, from New Zealand to Japan, from international setups to elite club environments.

It is a sign of progress. But it also raises expectations. The next Scotland head coach appointment cannot be about convenience or familiarity. It must be about ambition. It is about who can take Scotland further. And the best candidate may not be the most obvious one, which is Smith right now, and which is why Laidlaw and others have to come into the equation when it comes to replacing Townsend.

I am not hung up like some who would only want a Scotsman coaching the national team rather than a coach from abroad, but after nine years of Townsend in charge, the rugby romantic in me would be happy to see another of his fellow countrymen like Laidlaw take over if possible but only if he was the best man for the job.

I do not think that man will be Mike Blair, as by the time Townsend stands down, he will have been in the role of New Zealand attack coach for only a year. Who knows, he may be part of an All Blacks coaching team that has just won the World Cup, as they will be one of the favourites for the tournament. Further down the line, he might return home to the top job.

Just now, having a man from Edinburgh part of the coaching team of the New Zealand national side, a country where rugby is a religion, is something that followers of Scottish rugby should be proud.

The All Blacks always want a New Zealander to be their new head coach, with Dave Rennie, the former Glasgow Warriors and Australia coach, coming from Upper Hutt near Wellington.

That Blair is one of the few foreign coaches ever appointed to the All Blacks backroom staff speaks volumes for his talent.

Even then, Rennie had to fight tooth and nail to secure his appointment. Laidlaw has already made it in New Zealand. Hopefully, Blair will do so when he officially joins the All Blacks from Japanese club Kobelco Kobe Steelers in June.

There are more Scottish coaches than ever before making their mark around the world, which is great to see. Former Scotland women's head coach Bryan Easson, who spent 25 years coaching within the SRU, has taken over the Netherlands' national side.

Former Scotland winger Byron McGuigan has left Sale Sharks, where he was defence coach, to fulfil the same role with the England national team under Steve Borthwick.

Then there is Glasgow Warriors full-back Peter Murchie. He started out as head coach of Ayr and was assistant head coach of Glasgow Warriors and Stade Nicois. He is currently the defence coach with Kobe Steelers under Rennie and beside Blair. He will become Wales' defence coach under head coach Steve Tandy, who knows him well from his time in Scotland.

At club level across in the USA, former Edinburgh captain Simon Cross is head coach of Old Glory in Washington, where former Glasgow Warrior Rob Harley is captain. In England, former Scotland hooker Stevie Scott is part of the Bath coaching staff. Former Gala captain Richie Gray, no relation to the Scotland second row, is working with top clubs in France as their specialist breakdown and collision coach after spells with South Africa and Scotland under Vern Cotter.

The next generation is also emerging with former Scotland international centre Duncan Taylor, the Saracens academy manager, and Sean Maitland, one of the academy coaches.

Then there is one of the best home-based coaches Scotland has ever produced, who doesn’t get the credit he deserves. John Dalziel has paid his dues over the years, starting out at Melrose and having stints at London Scottish and Glasgow Warriors before becoming forwards coach under Gregor Townsend with Scotland six years ago, and then the British and Irish Lions forwards coach for their 2025 Test series win over Australia.

Whoever takes over from Townsend has to maintain some continuity by retaining the services of Dalziel and attack coach Peter Horne, who is one of the best young coaches around.

Whoever the new Scotland head coach is the SRU must be bold enough to at least look beyond the obvious candidate, who is Smith, disciplined to consider every serious contender and ambitious enough to appoint the right man for the job.

It could still be Smith, but he should earn it through a rigorous, transparent process, not simply inherit it because of the good work he is doing at Glasgow.

The decision has to be made without sentiment and has to be the right one. Scottish rugby cannot afford anything less.