SCOTLAND and Glasgow Warriors assistant coach Matt Taylor has revealed that Gregor Townsend is already taking a close interest in every aspect of the national team’s work - seven months before he moves from Scotstoun to Murrayfield.

Taylor, who will become a full-time coach with Scotland when Townsend takes over from Vern Cotter next June, explained that the current coach and the man who will replace him exchange ideas regularly.

“There’s been no formal ‘Here’s what we’re doing’, but I know Gregor is on the phone a lot to Vern and I report back to Gregor on what’s going on in the camp,” Taylor said as the squad were putting the finishing touches to their preparation for today’s international against Argentina. “He’s asked me to make a note of anything that I think works well. Gregor is very detailed in how he coaches and is very conscious of things that work well and how we can improve.

“Gregor talks to the Glasgow boys coming back from Scotland about what’s worked and what could be done better, and he’ll have his own spin on things. But he’d be crazy to change things when he comes in, because we’re doing pretty well at the moment - although we want to get better. There will be things that he changes and things that are kept the same.

“When the decision was made about Gregor coming in and Vern moving on, the leaders [among the players] met together and there wasn’t too much of a deal made of it. It was just ‘right, business as usual, we’re going to do well’. The players will certainly want to do well for Vern and the other coaches who are moving on.”

Scotland lost to Australia by a single point last week, but Taylor was encouraged by their attacking play. He insisted, though, that today against the Pumas they will both have to play well again - and get the win.

“You can see from the way that we’re playing that the boys are excited. The disappointing thing was that we didn’t get the result and we’re well aware that we need to change that this weekend.

“It’s great to be in the squad. It’s a professional environment, but we want to enjoy it too because if you do that you play well. It’s great to be a part of it, but we want to get a win.”