PAUSE. BREATH IN. Continue.

There’s not much straightforward for Scottish rugby these days. And for their captain, Kelly Brown, even day-to-day speaking can be an on-going tussle.

At some point in a youth spent between his home in Glasgow and his father’s birthplace in Portstewart, Co Antrim, Brown developed a stammer.

Though the trait may frame the words on this webpage, it is far from the characteristic that defines the flanker.

Indeed, Brown is speaking for the best part of two minutes before he really feels the need to check the stride of his speech. And throughout an extensive inquisition, you could count on one hand the number of times he enacts the learned pause, breath and continue process.

It wasn’t always like this.

“I first really started to work on it in April 2010 and it was mainly because I wanted to do these sorts of things and actually enjoy them,” says the imposing six foot, four inch back-row as he sits at a table where each surrounding chair seats another set of journalist’s eyes boring through him.

“I’ve done it and I enjoy these things now. Whilst I am aware of it and I’ve always got to work on it, most of the time I’m in control.”

A crucial part of Saracens’ power game-plan on top of grafting with Scotland, The 30-year-old will this Sunday lead his country for the third time in the Six Nations. It is an honour that was rightfully his in 2012, until injury took it from him when he broke his leg in the final Heineken Cup pool fixture; just three days after Andy Robinson asked him to take on the metaphorical armband.

For Christmas, his wife presented him a gift many would consider macabre: the screws which months earlier had held his right leg in place while it healed were neatly framed and wrapped underneath the tree.

For the squeamish, the small chunks of metal would be a painful memory best hidden or forgotten. Yet Brown proudly tweeted the gift with the emphasising hashtag, ‘all part of the journey’.

Whether dealing with a broken leg or a speech impediment; every hurdle thrown his way is now met with a calm confidence that he will overcome. If there is a better man to help a young stammerer through a period of difficulty then perhaps he could be knighted.

Willing

“I get the occasional letter,” he says with a suspicion of understatement, “I’ve spoken to a few groups of children who stammer.

“I like to speak about it as much as I can, and if I can help anyone, I’m more than willing to see what I can do.”

As he speaks, a bright spotlight is switched on Brown, projecting the straight lines of his jaw onto the nearby wall. He squints at the light which would make even the brashest performer sweat a little, but continues to lament over the run of November results which forced Robinson to step away.

As ever, the versatile flanker was unwilling to lay responsibility anywhere but his own door.

“I spoke to Andy and all of the coaches after the match we lost to Tonga. I said to them, ‘there’s nothing more that you guys could have done.’ I feel it was entirely down to us. As players, we’ve not played anywhere near the level we are capable of and ultimately that’s what cost Andy.”

Every word Brown provides is deliberate. His sympathy and regret for his former coach is genuine. He has written in detail about the need for players to shoulder the blame and his stance will not soften.

“I’ve always said that every time I play for Scotland all I really want to do is make Scotland proud.” Says the former Border Reiver and Glasgow Warrior.

Responsibility

“(Against New Zealand and South Africa) we worked incredibly hard, we scored a few tries and we showed a bit of fight. But in the final match I think the energy dropped and we didn’t. There’s no doubt our pride took a massive, massive dent in that game and we need to restore that.”

He adds the message that would have still been ringing in his team-mates ears before beating Italy 10 days ago: “We also spoke as a squad after that, and I made it clear that every player has got to look at themselves and make sure that they improve what they need to improve – as players, ultimately you are responsible for how you play.

“I’ve spoken to the guys and they’ve all been working hard on their individual skills and I’m sure we’ll be in a…”

Brown pauses. He takes a breath, and continues:

”… a better place.”

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