CHERRY RIPE

Toony confident Dave and Ewan will be fit for opener

- STUART BATHGATE

GREGOR TOWNSEND insists he has no new injury worries ahead of next week's Six Nations I 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 line-up 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 back-up for this week's training camp.

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

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