1
Jamie Ritchie's Scotland captaincy bid set back by Edinburgh's team selection
Jamie Ritchie appears to have been dealt a blow in his bid to retain the Scotland captaincy for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations after he was only named on the bench for Edinburgh’s Challenge Cup match away to Scarlets on Friday.
ADVERTISEMENT
National team head coach Gregor Townsend indicated that he was open to changing his skipper for the championship as the 27-year-old flanker – who has led the Scots since summer 2022 – has been hindered by a shoulder problem sustained at the World Cup and then a jaw problem he suffered against Glasgow at the end of this month.
With competition for starting berths in the back-row intensifying, Townsend – anticipating Ritchie’s return to the team against Scarlets after three weeks on the sidelines – said on Tuesday that he needed to see the 27-year-old flanker “put his best foot forward” in what will be the last club match before the Six Nations begins.
However, his chances to make an impact and reassert himself ahead of the Six Nations are diminished slightly by the fact his involvement on Friday is set to come as a substitute.
Ritchie’s fellow Scotland internationals Luke Crosbie and Duhan van der Merwe both return to the starting XV for the match in Llanelli, where a bonus-point win will guarantee Edinburgh a place in the knockout stages of the tournament.
“We’ve named a strong and experienced 23 for an important game in our overall season,” head coach Sean Everitt told the Edinburgh website.
🏰🟠 Your Edinburgh team to face Scarlets at Parc y Scarlets tomorrow night!
📺 Watch live on @S4C & https://t.co/uAreK8pULX#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/nZUa7cgXu4
— Edinburgh Rugby (@EdinburghRugby) January 18, 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
“We know we need a positive result and we’ll be going all out to achieve that tomorrow night.
“We’re delighted to welcome Duhan, Luke and Jamie back to the squad after missing last week’s Gloucester match.
“They all possess game-changing skillsets, and their experience will be key in helping us deliver a match-winning performance.
“Scarlets are strong at home and both sides know each other well from league competition. It will be an 80-minute battle where we’ll need to be on it from the very first whistle.”
Edinburgh team vs Scarlets – Friday 19 January (kick-off 8pm)
15. Emiliano Boffelli (34)
14. Chris Dean (141)
13. Matt Currie (28)
12. James Lang (46)
11. Duhan van der Merwe (83)
10. Ben Healy (11)
9. Ben Vellacott (49) CO-CAPTAIN
ADVERTISEMENT
1. Pierre Schoeman (107)
2. Dave Cherry (81)
3. WP Nel (196)
4. Sam Skinner (15)
5. Grant Gilchrist (197) CO-CAPTAIN
6. Luke Crosbie (92)
7. Hamish Watson (147)
8. Viliame Mata (126)
Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman (11)
17. Boan Venter (55)
18. Angus Williams (25)
19. Glen Young (34)
20. Jamie Ritchie (104)
21. Tom Dodd (5)
22. Ali Price (7)
23. Cammy Scott (5)
Comments on RugbyPass
“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
5 Go to comments