RITCHIE READY TO ROCK

Forward can brush off Perpignan’s poor form

- BY GRAEME MACPHERSON GREGOR TOWNSEND

GREGOR TOWNSEND reckons Jamie Ritchie's tough start to life in France could be the making of him.

The former Scotland captain left Edinburgh after 11 years this summer for a new challenge with Perpignan.

But it has been a disaster all round for the Catalan club who opened their Top 14 campaign with seven straight defeats.

That left them rock bottom of the table heading into this weekend's fixtures - and in line for a third relegation out of the French top flight in just 11 years.

Assistant coaches David Marty and Gerald Bastide have both quit in recent weeks to add to the sense of turmoil about the place.

And it's left the 2009 champions up against it as they try to salvage their season.

Townsend, though, had no qualms about picking Ritchie for the autumn Test series that starts next weekend against the USA.