ARMBAND OF BROTHERS

Jamie has no problem with being stripped of Scots captaincy and vows to help new skips

- STUART BATHGATE

DEPOSED Scotland skipper Jamie Ritchie reckons he still has a lot to offer as a leader and insists he's fully behind Gregor Townsend's decision to give the job to Finn Russell and Rory Darge instead.

Ritchie lost the armband before the Six Nations but was still named vicecaptain in the opener against Wales.

Then he was dropped for the France match - and although he was back for Saturday's 30-21 win over England at the weekend, his place in the back row to take on Italy in Rome on March 9 is under threat from in-form Saracens forward Andy Christie.

Ritchie also lost the Edinburgh captaincy at the start of the season, so he might be forgiven for feeling a bit sorry for himself. But he insists he will carry on regardless and keep giving his all for the team.