Jamie Ritchie believes the Edinburgh players who were involved with a successful Autumn Nations Series for Scotland can take confidence from that campaign back into club action.  

The national team recorded three wins from four over the past month, while head coach Gregor Townsend labelled the performance in defeat to world champions South Africa as their best of the bunch.  

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Ritchie featured from the bench in the Springboks match before an outstanding 80-minute showing in Sunday’s win over the Wallabies, believes that should give those involved plenty of confidence after a difficult start to the new URC season.  

Edinburgh won just two of their opening six games and Ritchie admitted it had been a tricky start.  

He said: “It has been difficult in some ways. We’ve had some really good performances, so I think it’s important to take confidence from those, but I think coming out of [Scotland] camp there's probably a few guys who have had a bit of a freshen up.  

“Some guys who have been here [with Edinburgh] the whole time have had some time off and they’ll be really raring to get back into games. 

“If we can capitalise on that energy and then bring in that confidence that we’ve built up with Scotland, hopefully we’ll be able to hit the ground running.” 

Jamie Ritchie celebrates winning the Hopetoun Cup against Australia with back-row colleagues Matt Fagerson (left) and Josh BaylissJamie Ritchie celebrates winning the Hopetoun Cup against Australia with back-row colleagues Matt Fagerson (left) and Josh Bayliss (Image: SNS) Ritchie reflected on his own all-action display against Australia, where he was one of Scotland’s top performers.  

“It was great to get a run around and get back playing decent minutes. I was really happy with the game and the result.” 

Asked how it ranked among his recent Scotland showings, the former captain added: “I’d say it was probably up there.  

“I think it was the first full 80 I’ve played for Scotland - not including the summer tour - since the South Africa game in the World Cup.  

“It was nice to get through a whole game and feel like I was contributing. Yeah, certainly in the last year or so it was probably one of my best.” 

That display came at the end of a campaign that started with frustration for the 28-year-old, who was left out of the squad for the opening match against Fiji before a strong cameo against South Africa and injury to Jack Dempsey opened the door.  

“I was chuffed to be involved against South Africa - I was pretty happy with how I went, my 20 minutes.  

“And then I think because Demo [Jack Dempsey] got injured, I was desperate to play against Portugal but was not allowed. And then obviously I was delighted to get a start at the weekend and play 80 minutes. 

“I’m really happy with how it finished. It was a bit of a mixed bag, but I was chuffed with the end.” 

Now he’s looking forward to a critical period of the season at club level, with games against Gloucester and Bayonne in Europe to come in the next fortnight before the 1872 Cup double-header against Glasgow Warriors over the festive period.  

Ritchie added: "It’s obviously a busy time of year for us, into Europe and then into the derby games, so I’m really excited to hopefully carry some of that form in.”