When Scotland failed to emerge from the group stage of a rugby World Cup hosted by Japan in 2019 – only the second time that had occurred – disappointment was almost tangible.

But now it is being claimed that things were arguably much, much worse with a recently retired squad member claiming that :

*Things turned “toxic”

* Key player Finn Russell was effectively being manipulated to the detriment of his playing ability.

* Some colleagues wanted to come home early.

*Before even the outward bound flight there was a split among players.

All this is set against a background of mid-tournament furore with Murrayfield authorities fined £70,000 for comments, deemed by many as insensitive. They argued that even a typhoon that was to cost 90 local lives should not be allowed to get in the way

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