Toony confident Dave and Ewan will be fit for opener

LET BATTLE COMMENCE Townsend with the Six Nations coaches

- BY STUART BATHGATE

GREGOR TOWNSEND insists he has no new injury worries ahead of next week's Six Nations - even though two of the three hookers in his squad sat out the weekend.

Veteran Dave Cherry did not turn out for French second-division outfit Vannes while Ewan Ashman had to pull out of the Edinburgh lineup with a neck injury.

Head coach Townsend only has three hookers in his squad for the Championship, which begins with a trip to Italy a week on Saturday.

So he could have to call in backup for this week's training camp.

But he’s confident Cherry and Ashman will be available along with Harlequins ace George Tumer in Rome.

He said: “Dave had a little calf strain. He had a scan and nothing came out of it.