The Breakdown

Scotland lock Sam Skinner.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: New Covid protocols for Six Nations make it even tougher on Scotland

January 20 2021

A packed Murrayfield during the Six Nations last year.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Six Nations needs to move to summer and Lions postponed as rugby gets to grips with Covid-19

January 6 2021

The players line up for the anthems at an empty Murrayfield before Scotland play France in the Autumn Nations Cup.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: The best of a brutal 2020 in rugby

December 30 2020

Rory Sutherland in his comeback game for Scotland in Dublin in January.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Rory Sutherland is Scottish rugby’s best story of 2020

December 23 2020

Ben Toolis gets treatment for a head knock playing for Scotland against Georgia last year.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Rugby’s not gone soft, but high stakes of collisions mean it really needs to get softer

December 17 2020

Flailing arms "contesting" another kick in the Wales-England Autumn Nations Cup game.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Rugby isn’t broken, we just need to be patient

December 3 2020

Jaco van der Walt kicks clear playing for Edinburgh at Llanelli earlier this month.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Jaco Van der Walt should go straight into next week’s Scotland team

November 26 2020

The Pumas celebrate with their fans after beating New Zealand in Sydney.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Scotland shouldn’t be scared to beat the All Blacks as well

November 19 2020

Murrayfield on an international matchday has become a hot ticket.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Massive price hike risks taking lustre off Scottish Rugby’s sell-outs

November 12 2020

Greig Laidlaw in a Lions shirt during the 2017 tour, when he was called up for Ben Youngs.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Stop this slavish seeking of Warren Gatland’s approval – Scotland have bigger issues than the Lions

November 5 2020

Although he retired in 2007, the great Scott Murray is still the best lineout forward in Six Nations history.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: The day Scotland’s Scott Murray spooked the Welsh

October 29 2020

Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg share a beer after the Heineken Cup Final in Bristol.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Finn Russell has been no maverick in a Scotland shirt

October 22 2020

Jamie Ritchie has assumed a leadership role with Scotland in the last year.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Born leaders? Richard Cockerill’s got one right under his nose in Jamie Ritchie

October 15 2020

Finn Russell has been in exhuberant form for Racing 92 since rugby restarted after lockdown.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Finn Russell must be back without preconditions as Scotland gather for extended Autumn season

October 8 2020

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN: Edinburgh’s success this season depends on Cockerill and the kids as much as the big names

October 1 2020

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THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: With experience and a still-formidable squad, Glasgow Warriors shouldn’t struggle this season

September 24 2020

Kelly Brown will bring "bits and pieces" of what he learned at Saracens back to Glasgow.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Much more Mr Nice Guy expected from former Scotland captain Kelly Brown in Glasgow Warriors role

September 17 2020

Mandatory Credit: Photo by Matthew Impey/Shutterstock (10766752n)
Owen Farrell of Saracens is sent off for this high tackle on Charlie Atkinson of Wasps in the 2nd half
Saracens v Wasps, Rugby Union, Gallagher Premiership, Allianz Park, Hendon, London, UK - 05/09/2020

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Rugby’s discipline process is a joke, not just for Owen Farrell

September 10 2020

Scotland's Peter Horne hacks the ball on with Jesse Kriel and Siya Kolisi of South Africa looking on during the Autumn International match at BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday November 17, 2018. See PA story RUGBYU Scotland. Photo credit should read: Ian Rutherford/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only, No commercial use without prior permission

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: South Africa drifts towards Europe and the Six Nations

September 3 2020

Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill before the Guinness PRO14 match at BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh. PA Photo. Picture date: Saturday August 22, 2020. See PA story RUGBYU Glasgow. Photo credit should read: Ian Rutherford/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Taking the next step forward

August 27 2020

Shutdown has thrown up challenges for Murrayfield chiefs.

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Scottish Rugby was on a sound financial footing when the coronavirus pandemic struck…it’s not anymore

August 13 2020

Glasgow coach Kelly Brown has accepoted a role as patron of the British Stammering Association.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Ticking the coaches’ box – developing Scots for the top jobs is vital

August 6 2020

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THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Player welfare must remain paramount

July 30 2020

Darcy Graham is one of Scotland's most successful development players in recent years.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: A third Scottish pro team is neither feasible nor desirable

July 18 2020

The Six Nations is set for a huge windfall from investors CVC.

Rugby

THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: 6 Nations money breaks world unity

July 9 2020