The ‘proud of the effort’ mantra from Townsend is the biggest red rag to the biggest Scottish bull.
The scale of the failure was epic, not so much because they lost – because this was always going to be a tight game against a fine Italy team – but in the way they lost.
Their lack of aggression and intent from the start, their defensive disorganisation for Italy’s tries, the terrible weaknesses in their lineout (while Italy were nailing most of theirs), the self-harming bouts of indiscipline at critical times, their inability to problem-solve on the move.
Italy were missing some key players. Scotland were missing no-one.
When it came to coaching nous and player execution, Italy had a little too much of both.
They inflicted a soul-destroying defeat on Scotland, but, in many senses, Scotland did it to themselves. A recurring theme, that.
The feeling of fury in the aftermath is unprecedented since Andy Robinson’s team lost to Tonga in 2013 and Matt Williams’ team lost to, well, pretty much everybody in his slapstick years in charge.
A campaign over after just one game? Maybe premature, but you can’t fault anybody for thinking it.
England will expect an angry Scottish reaction on Saturday. Some of the visitors, hard-bitten by recent experience, will know that there’s fire and brimstone coming their way.
The home fans in vast numbers are now dead against Townsend remaining as coach, but come kick-off time in Edinburgh, you won’t know it. The place will be electrified.
Could you discount a Scotland upset? No. Would you bet on it? No, again.
At Murrayfield, the decision-makers are sitting in silence, apparently still confident that improvement will come if they just hold their nerve.
As a reminder, Townsend took over in 2017. He’s nearly 100 games in. This is his ninth Six Nations. Scotland have never contended.
His future is being talked about, but not by the people who might determine it. Not yet.
That might come later, depending on what happens in the weeks ahead – ‘might’ being the operative word – but for now there is a Calcutta Cup to deal with and a world of questions for Townsend to answer.