By Bryn Palmer BBC Sport Online

Pountney always gave his all for Scotland

For a player who has no family ties to Scotland, Anthony Charles Pountney's commitment to his adopted country has never been in doubt.

It is no small decision on his part to willingly relinquish a Test career that has flourished out of initial rejection.

Pountney represented England at Under-21 level but was told he was too small - at a mere 6ft - to make it at the top level.

But given the chance to prove that theory wrong with Scotland, the Northampton flanker has done so in rampant style.

His commitment and ability were rewarded when Ian McGeechan made him captain in 2000 after a leading role in a famous Calcutta Cup win over England.

With a grandmother from the Channel Islands - allowing him to play for any of the home unions - there were plenty who scoffed at Pountney's Scottish 'qualification'.

Pountney factfile

Born: 13 Nov 1973 in Southampton Test debut: Nov 1998 v South Africa Caps: 31 (5 tries) Captain: 5 times (4 wins)

But the Southampton-born, Winchester-educated player revelled in the hard-nosed style he found on switching allegiance from the red rose to the thistle.

As an openside flanker and renowned ball scavenger, Pountney's game demands he puts his head in where it hurts, at the frequent risk of personal injury.

The least he expects is that his willingness to put his body on the line in every game is matched by the same level of application from those around him.

But, as his outburst reveals, the 'penny-pinching' attitude of the Scottish Rugby Union and 'shambolic organisation' at Murrayfield have stretched his patience to breaking point.

McGeechan (right) had a big influence on Pountney

The parallels with Roy Keane's walkout from the Republic of Ireland's World Cup campaign last summer are unavoidable, the revelations damning in their detail.

"It all adds up," Pountney said. "No water or food at squad sessions, after some of us have travelled from England and France to be there.

"No protein drinks, fights to get studs for your boots, being called in for detailed video analysis of your display against South Africa the day before you play Fiji, our wives and girlfriends being left on their own when they come to watch us in the Six Nations, when the blazered brigade have their wives on SRU accounts."

Pountney is also upset at being asked to pay �7.50 to replace a Scotland tie he gave to a young fan and the lack of SRU hospitality after a historic win over South Africa.

Some people will probably slate me as an English bastard, but I hope people know that I have always put my all into playing for Scotland Budge Pountney

If he has bottled up these grievances for some time, the trauma recently experienced in his personal life has caused him to question the value of his own sacrifices.

"I feel that time is running out waiting for a professional approach to be applied to the Scotland team," he added. "I now realise there are other important matters in my life that I want to dedicate more time to."

Few genuine fans would question his commitment. They will merely be saddened at his untimely departure.