Ritchie ready for an encore after Scotland choir practice

JAMIE RITCHIE says it is only right Scotland sing when they are winning after getting their World Cup campaign back on track.

The national team players could be heard belting out a number of songs from inside their dressing room as they celebrated hitting all the right notes during Monday’s 34-0 triumph over Samoa.

It was a moment when the tension that has threatened to strangle the squad in the wake of their disastrous defeat to Ireland was released.

And flanker Ritchie believes those moments of team harmony are crucial if Scotland are to remain on song during the rest of the tournament.

He said: “Every time we get a win, we sing a couple of songs just as a group to connect afterwards and to celebrate.

“I think it’s important we do that. We talk about being a really tight-knit group and that’s part of that.

“It was good to get the win and it was good to have that chance to enjoy it, especially in a tournament like this when you spend a lot of time together preparing for matches.

“I think that team spirit has been key to getting us through the last week. There’s been a lot of outside noise coming in but there has also been a few honest conversations inside the camp.”

Scotland faced a humiliating early exit after their shocking display against the Irish was compounded by Japan’s stunning upset win over Joe Schmidt’s men.

Gregor Townsend’s squad were faced with requiring three bonuspoint wins to rescue qualification for the last eight but their display against the Samoans at the Misaki Stadium has delivered the first of those extras.

“We looked like scoring more than we actually did [against Samoa] so it bodes well going forward,” said the back-rower, whose side face Russia a week today and then Japan four days later.

“We knew we needed to perform this week. We all had belief we could, so getting the job done feels good.

“I think that’s a truer reflection of what the team is about than Yokohama. If we can back it up it will be. We can’t afford to flit in and out of form like we have done.”