* It was agreed between the Scottish Rugby Union, RNZ 2011 and the IRB that Scotland would not pack or prepare for departure until they were confirmed to either qualify or elimination was confirmed.
* As soon as Scotland gained a bonus point against England, it was confirmed to Scotland they would not have to leave their hotel until yesterday at the earliest.
* Once Argentina beat Georgia and qualified in second place, Scottish team management requested a number of team members leave on Sunday night rather than waiting for yesterday or even today. This was requested by the team, not suggested by Rugby NZ 2011.
* The remaining team members relocated to an airport hotel yesterday and were departing on flights to Scotland yesterday and today.
* Scotland fully supports our position. Scotland team media manager Graham Law states: "Further to [the] totally inaccurate reporting with regard to Scotland's travel arrangements and departure, the Scotland party wish to convey our sincere thanks to Rugby World Cup and RNZ 2011 for all their support during the tournament and wish them every success for the remainder of the competition."
Peter Bills replies
The IRB/Rugby NZ 2011, perhaps stung into activity by the growing criticism of some of their practices, have hit back at me and my bona fide story entitled "Scotland treated as pieces of meat".
But their response quietly ignores several of the key issues raised by the story. I make the following points in reply:
* They imply the detailed running of the tournament is done by RNZ 2011, not the IRB. Yet surely this organisation is run, directed and controlled by the IRB?
* Might an organisation that involves itself in such minute detail as spotting a Samoan player wearing a mouth guard with a company's name on it and duly fining that player $10,000, in reality, be expected to be pretty closely involved in just about everything at the event?
* The information in my article came from not one but two members of the Scottish camp, officials who said the same thing. Would it not be odd that they would make up such an extraordinary tale if, as alleged, it was untrue?
* Why would an official use a phrase like "players being treated like pieces of meat" if there were not a widely held view that certain teams - like Samoa, Russia, USA and Namibia all of whom were forced to play 4 games in 16 days - have been poorly treated?
* I did not reveal the story to the IRB first, before publication, because I lost faith in that process a long time ago when the IRB flatly denied information in an interview with a board official until I produced the tape which proved the accuracy of my words.
* The reply says it was never intended to send Scotland home before Monday. But the Official Media Guide has the Scotland team accommodated at SkyCity Hotel only "from Sept 27 to [Saturday] October 1?"
