THE BREAKDOWN, STEVE SCOTT: Bookending 2022 with best performances, at least Scotland are moving forward again

Scotland bookended 2022 with their two best results and performances. This year's entirely unnecessary intrigue is still puzzling. After the Puma game on Saturday, the air is cleared and the direction is obvious. Scotland's next three games are England away, Wales home and France away.

Scotland's pack isn't punching in chances as they might. Scotland's forwards are moving forward again. They can strike from anywhere with the 10 and back three.

The entire Scotland team scored yesterday.

All Blacks defence is decent but needs more threat on opposition ball. Chris Harris is the lynchpin of the defence.

Scotland are looking for a replacement for injured players. Edinburgh has many non-Scottish Qualified props. WP Nel and Murphy Walker are the only two players with more than 300 pro games. Fraser Brown is getting more fragile with age. Stuart McInally has only played for the Barbarians lately. Ewan Ashman has a shoulder injury.

Townsend praised John Dalziel's second row, but he was a mixed bag. Richie Gray was banned against Argentina. Scott Cummings should come back into the picture. Grant Gilchrist is a yeoman figure at the heart of it all. Glen Young should be looked at in the RWC warm-ups.

Jamie Ritchie played well after his long injury gap. Hamish Watson wasn't as prominent this autumn. Rory Darge was injured. Matt Fagerson is a possibility at No 8. Magnus Bradbury and Jack Dempsey didn't impress.

Steve Scott had a disappointing autumn international. Doddie Dodd is an inspiration to many. Scotland play England in November 2022.

Ali Price started all four tests at 9. Ben White looked decent in three replacement runs and George Horne got about 10 minutes. Blair Kinghorn's Instagram post has a prominent shot of him with 10 on his back.

Sione Tuipulotu was picked to start nine tests in 2022.

Chris Harris is the starting 13 for the next match. He played an hour in each of the last two matches.

Stuart Hogg, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are a very good back three for Scotland. Ollie Smith looked great against Australia, Rufus McLean is good and Kyle Steyn will not let anyone down if called on.

All-time top 10 and not finished yet.