Scotland managed to secure only two victories out of four matches, missing potential wins against New Zealand and Argentina. The team faced jeers from fans after a disappointing collapse against Argentina, where they let a 21-0 advantage slip away.

Townsend has faced considerable scrutiny and calls to quit following a disappointing Autumn Test Series.

Scotland finished with just two wins out of their four games; with opportunities of victories against both New Zealand and Argentina squandered. The Scots were booed off the pitch against Argentina after throwing away a 21-0 lead.

Townsend claimed that too much had been expected over the autumn, believing a sense of ‘entitlement’ may have fuelled the disappointment.

Unsurprisingly given he had just handed Townsend a new contract before the Autumn, Williamson is still backing the head coach.

‘I think we have an outstanding coaching group,’ claimed Williamson after Scottish Rugby’s AGM.

Alex Williamson has defended Scotland’s performances in the recent Autumn Test Series

Scotland were booed from the pitch following their defeat to Argentina at Murrayfield

Williamson believes Gregor Townsend and his coaching team are ‘outstanding’ 

‘I think we saw some real progress in a number of areas, and I think there was lots to like, but that doesn’t diminish the fact that there was also some things that really didn’t go well in the heat of the moment.

‘I think the player group in particular have put their hands up to the challenges against Argentina.

I think we should continue to be very confident that we’ve got a structure, a coaching group, and an ideology about how we want to play rugby in Scotland that we should be confident about, and that’s where we are.

‘That includes Gregor. I don’t foresee change there. I think that we also had the benefit of seeing Lee Radford’s approach to defence, and I think there was some really exciting stuff there, but also the group are learning a new methodology. So as we go into the Six Nations we’ll be better for those four games for sure.’

Asked about targets for the Six Nations and whether Townsend would not be held accountable no matter what the results, Williamson said the assessment would be based on whether Scotland were ‘making progress’ and not whether they ‘win or lose games’.

‘I’m not going to answer for him (Townsend),’ said the CEO. ‘It’s better for him to talk to you about that, but we’re confident we saw progress in lots of areas during the autumn and we still feel really deflated about some of the outcomes, of course.

‘I think that we are really optimistic about our opportunities at the Six Nations. David (Nucifora) is fully involved in the review of the Autumn and the way that we are progressing.

‘We are not publishing or setting expectations as to where we want to finish in the tournament, but we are anticipating that we are going to be highly competitive and that we are going to go well.

Williamson also stressed progress wasn’t about winning or losing matches

‘We obviously entered into the contract with Gregor with the full expectation that he is going to take us through to the World Cup.

‘ I don’t think that we would enter into an extension to the contracts for that entire coaching group if we didn’t believe that they had the talent, capability and the belief from the players. 

‘And I have seen no evidence to suggest that they aren’t the talented group that we re-employed from a coaching perspective, and nor have I seen any evidence that the player group aren’t 100-per-cent supportive of Gregor and his assistant coaches.’

In terms of Townsend’s contract with Red Bull, meanwhile, Williamson admitted the head coach’s consultancy role has created ‘some consternation’, but he insisted the fact Townsend was able to ‘plug into one of the largest and most successful sporting institutions in Red Bull’ was a ‘fantastic opportunity for him’.