Ritchie reflects on growth ahead of landmark appearance

• 12 Jul 2024
• Features

Edinburgh Rugby's Scotland Building Society Player of the Season for 2023/24, Jamie Ritchie, is on the cusp of a major milestone - his 50th cap for Scotland.

Ahead of tonight’s Skyscanner Americas Tour clash against the USA in Washington (kick-off 11.30pm BST), Ritchie spoke about his growth as a player, his ambitions for the future, and the team’s determination to avoid a repeat of their narrow 2018 defeat to the Eagles.

From young talent to seasoned leader

Reflecting on his journey, Ritchie acknowledges the significant development in his leadership qualities.

“It’s funny,” he said. “I feel a lot older than I did back then. The biggest change is probably leadership. I had it in me back then, but I probably didn’t understand it as much as I do now.”

He highlights a shift from simply following instructions: “When you’re young and come into these environments, you very much do whatever you’re told to do.

“Whereas now I feel I have to drive the standard rather than follow it.”

This maturity extends to his decision making on the field. “Rugby-wise, I think my understanding of the game has come on a lot,” he says.

“I’m probably a lot better in the set-piece, especially in the lineout, than I was back then. Probably slightly cooler head as well. And I probably try and make some better decisions in and around the defensive breakdown.”

Striving for continued success

Looking ahead, Ritchie’s focus remains clear: to keep performing and contributing.

He acknowledges the influence of factors beyond his control but emphasizes the importance of dedication and preparation.

“Just to continue to play well,” he said. “To contribute. Rugby is funny, it’s quite subjective, so a coach can decide how the trajectory of your career goes. It’s also dictated by a little bit of luck, and injury, and things like that.”

He maintains a pragmatic approach, prioritizing maximizing his own efforts: “So I think for me, going forward in my career – and this is how I’ve looked at my career up to this point as well – is so long as I feel I’m doing everything I can and leaving no stone unturned in terms of my preparation for games and in training, then I’ll be happy with whatever comes my way.”

Proud moments in a Scotland jersey

Ritchie reflects with pride on his achievements with Scotland, particularly captaining the team to a Calcutta Cup victory and the emotional tribute to Doddie Weir before the New Zealand game.

He describes that moment: “That for me, and being able to be captain on that day, is one of the proudest moments of my life and certainly the proudest moment of my career.”

Avoiding past mistakes

Scotland’s convincing 73-12 victory over Canada in their tour opener sets a positive tone, but the squad is well aware of the potential pitfalls.

They’re determined to avoid a repeat of the 2018 upset defeat to the USA after a dominant win over Canada.

Ritchie emphasizes that lesson learned: “We were mentioned post-match against Canada that six years ago we had a good win and then went up against opposition in hot conditions and ended up losing.

“It was mentioned so we didn’t take our eye off the ball in preparations this week.”

While the primary focus remains securing a win, the squad has also enjoyed some downtime in Washington.

Ritchie, along with teammates Rory Sutherland and Pierre Schoeman, explored the city on scooters, visiting landmarks like the Lincoln Memorial and the White House. He also plans to visit museums and participate in a scooter tour organized by teammate Huw Jones.

Looking ahead to kick-off

Scotland take on the USA tonight at Audi Field, Washington DC, kick-off 11.30pm BST. The match is live on TNT Sports.