Under pressure - Scott Johnson © PA Photos

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Scotland's under-fire coach Scott Johnson has had a vote of confidence after the Scottish board (SRU) was forced to speak out in the aftermath of the weekend's wretched Calcutta Cup defeat.

Johnson was heavily criticised for his team selection and approach to the game. Andy Bull in the Guardian wrote: "If a bad workman blames his tools, a bad coach carries on much as Johnson did after this match." And Stephen Jones in the Sunday Times added; "It would be wonderful to be proved wrong, but there is so little in the previous career of Johnson to suggest he is in any way suited by temperament, skills or knowledge of his adopted nation. Off the field, Johnson can be entertaining. But what Scotland need is to be entertained by wins, not words. One of the best Scottish players of recent times had this reaction to the prospect of Johnson taking complete charge: "Very scary." Quite."

An SRU spokesman said Johnson "retained the full support of Scottish Rugby" adding the board "share the supporters' sense of disappointment and frustration at the results and performances … we will all continue to work hard ahead of our next match to produce a win. Scott Johnson and his coaches know the magnitude of the task we face to ensure we are competitive in the international arena."

Scotland skipper Greig Laidlaw also gave his endorsement. "The coaches have 100% backing of the players, no doubt," he said. "The faults in these two games have not come from the coaches, but from the players."

Johnson, who steps aside in the summer when the long-term appointment, Vern Cotter, arrives, continued to put his backing in a young side. "These guys are going to develop," he said. "They are not finished articles."