The 37-year-old feels that even the strongest defence can be troubled by a team moving the ball quickly and he hopes Scotland can emulate their Magners League representatives.

“We have to play at pace and we like operating in chaos; traditionally, we’ve thrived at that,” Townsend explained.

“It suits our players and their physical nature, and it’s the way that Edinburgh and Glasgow have been playing week in, week out.

“The way that Edinburgh played in the first half against Northampton in the Heineken Cup and how Glasgow played against the Ospreys, that’s the rugby we aspire to.

“The shift in the laws mean that if you do the right things in attack you keep the ball and put pressure on the defence.

“Playing at pace is a killer for every defence, it has to be every team’s goal in attack and it’s certainly ours.”