Briefing was beginning of end for Gordon McKie

GORDON McKie can be a very personable character, and a media briefing he called in late March started like many others with good humour and banter with journalists.

But the gathering that was supposed to update Scottish rugby media on goings-on within Murrayfield was to prove the beginning of the end for the SRU's chief executive as he came under sustained and intense questioning. McKie had rarely had to deal with media probing in his career as an accountant and chief executive in business, and was never comfortable with the idea of his affairs being considered open to a wider rugby public.

So, when he was challenged early on an assertion known to be inaccurate, which provoked a desultory response, the door opened on a series of follow-up questions that made McKie uncomfortable. The briefing moved away from his control, off script, and he went with it, surprising Andy Robinson, the Scotland coach to his right, and communications director Dominic McKay to his left in citing an environment of "cosiness" and "excuse-making" at the pro teams as a chief reason for Scottish rugby's poor performances.

McKie became tetchy over questions on the future of the game, with the strategic report halted. He was left speechless and the briefing was wrapped up. The reported remarks in the next morning's newspapers did not go down well in the Scottish rugby community, and the clock started ticking.