Jamie Ritchie thinks he caught the eye of one of his predecessors as Scotland captain after a Calcutta Cup triumph and that was what started him on the route to leading his country.
The 26-year-old from St Andrews was just 10 and still a pupil at Lawhead Primary when he went to the 2006 Calcutta Cup game at BT Murrayfield when Jason White’s Scotland beat England 18-12.
‘He led by example’
Jason White: huge hitter. Some player altogether @RugbySco pic.twitter.com/bGajsDpwGV
— Alisdair Hogg (@ajshogg) May 22, 2020
“It sounds a bit cheesy now,” admitted Ritchie, still self-effacing as he prepares to lead Scotland against Australia in the Autumn Series. “When we won the Calcutta Cup the guys were doing a lap of the pitch and Jason was a hero of mine.
“He probably didn’t mean to, but I thought he looked straight at me in the crowd and held up the Calcutta Cup. That is a really poignant memory for me in my rugby.
“It was just the way (White) led by example. From what I can gather he was a man of few words as a player and captain. He spoke when he had to, but very much led by his actions.
“He was a hugely physical bloke, and I was lucky enough to work with him when I left school and moved to Edinburgh. He was part of my player agency and I got to speak to him quite a lot.
“I got a text from him this week, saying congratulations and advising me to just be myself.”
‘It’s an ugly face, but I think I’ll be alright’
France prop Mohamed Haouas was red-carded for punching Scotland flank Jamie Ritchie at Murrayfield.
More here 👉 https://t.co/w9GEDT0HzQ pic.twitter.com/9aqmOvJCws
— RugbyRocks.com (@rugby_rocks) March 8, 2020
That was the plan anyway for Ritchie, who doesn’t plan to change his combative, all-action style too much now he is the face of the team.
“Why not?” he laughed when asked if he was comfortable being that. “It’s an ugly face, but I think I’ll be alright.
“As a captain I will be as authentic as I can be. It is important that I am true to myself.
“I have been given the captaincy for a reason, so why would I change from what I have been doing well?”
He’s never been shy of the physical if it’s required – he has a metal plate in his jaw from misadventures in Scotland action – but admits he’ll need to be cool.
“As my international career has progressed there has been less of the red mist,” he said. “If it kicks off and I feel there is something there, then maybe I’ll be in it. Or maybe I won’t.
“But you need to be a bit more controlled when you are communicating with referees. I think that is something that helps my game, because it keeps me calm and in the moment.”
The path from Station Park, St Andrews
18-y-o Zander Fagerson on for Glasgow…just as fellow Strathallan School team mate Jamie Ritchie comes on for Embra in Dublin.
— Steve Scott (@C_SScott) October 31, 2014
Although co-captain with Ali Price against Tonga a year ago, it’s natural now for Ritchie to reflect on his pathway to the job.
He started playing at Madrascals, the Madras FP minis a St Andrews, then went to Strathallan. He played club rugby for Madras and Howe of Fife before going to Edinburgh at just 17.
“The guy who probably had the biggest impact on my rugby career was Andrew Henderson,” he said. “He was director of rugby at Strathallan and is now head of the rugby academy there. I still catch up with him occasionally.
“Also the guys who have been here since I started at Edinburgh. Hamish Watson, Stuart McInally and Grant Gilchrist, these are guys who I like to sound out.
“And my agent (former internationalist) Rowan Shepherd has been a constant throughout my career.”
And he had his own advice for Jack Dempsey, who is likely to win his first cap against the country he played for 14 times on Saturday.
“Jack’s settled in really well,” he said. “We had a quick chat today. I was asking him what his thoughts were about getting off the bus (as the team arrives at the ground).
“I strongly suggested he take his headphones off and enjoy the moment. That’s certainly what I’ll be looking forward to tomorrow.”