Scotland coach Townsend downplays supporter discontent

Scotland fans made their feelings clear after watching their side's collapse against Argentina last weekend but head coach Gregor Townsend believes the supporters are still fully behind him and the team going into Sunday's match with Tonga.

Last Sunday, Scotland held a 21-0 lead early in the second half only for Argentina to come roaring back with five unanswered tries for a 33-24 win, and a chorus of boos rang out around Murrayfield.

"The crowd, it was like an exhale of disappointment. We all felt it," Townsend told reporters ahead of the Tonga test.

"What a flat end to the game. And nobody's hurting as much as us as a group. But sometimes those real painful moments as a group that you live through, you come through stronger."

The Argentina defeat came a week after Scotland made a comeback of their own as they searched for their first-ever win over New Zealand, but ultimately fell to defeat.

Townsend's men were 17-0 down at halftime against the All Blacks but drew level before New Zealand scored a late penalty and a try to deny Scotland a famous victory. The coach prefers to look at the positives after two bitter losses.

"I've seen the team play the best rugby it's played in eight years over the last two or three weeks," Townsend said.

"We're very disappointed we didn't get a win against New Zealand or didn't get a win against Argentina. But to get in those positions, to be 21-0 up, the team is delivering up to that point."

The coach was asked if there was more than just frustration and disappointment in the supporters' response to last weekend's defeat, and perhaps the fans have seen enough of near-misses.

"Look, I disagree with that. The supporters are coming out in huge numbers," Townsend said.

"We actually had a spike after