Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Jack Dempsey reflects on decision to switch allegiance to Scotland

By PA
Scotland's flanker Jack Dempsey prepares for a scrum during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool B match between Scotland and Tonga at Stade de Nice in Nice, southern France on September 24, 2023. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP) (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON/AFP via Getty Images)

Jack Dempsey is relishing the “ultimate test” as Scotland bid to prove they have grown since their last meeting with world champions South Africa 14 months ago.

ADVERTISEMENT

Gregor Townsend’s side struggled to lay a glove on the Boks as they lost 18-3 in a World Cup pool-stage match in Marseille in September 2023.

South Africa went on to win the tournament for the second successive time, but Dempsey is excited to see how his team fare against them in Sunday’s Autumn Test at Murrayfield.

Video Spacer

JDV and Nick Mallett on England’s ‘plastic energy’ | RPTV

Boks Office comment on England’s celebrations for making tackles against New Zealand. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

Video Spacer

JDV and Nick Mallett on England’s ‘plastic energy’ | RPTV

Boks Office comment on England’s celebrations for making tackles against New Zealand. Watch the full episode on RugbyPass TV.

Watch now

“I’m itching for it,” said the Australia-born back-rower. “It’s the ultimate test.

“They’re the back-to-back defending champions, the best in the world. And they deserve to have that crown. They’re the ultimate litmus test in terms of being a professional rugby player.

Fixture
Internationals
Scotland
11:10
10 Nov 24
South Africa
All Stats and Data

“We’re at a point now where we want to see how much we’ve grown from the World Cup, from when we played them last time. They’re the best country for eight years straight.

“We’re not under any illusion about what’s coming, but we’re glad to have them here and glad to play against the best in the world.”

The last meeting between the teams was Scotland’s lowest-scoring outing of the past five years and the only time they have failed to score a try for four years.

ADVERTISEMENT

But Dempsey believes his team need to concentrate on delivering their best performance rather than focusing on the scoreboard.

“I think in Test rugby, the scoreline never truly depicts what happened, depending on how you look at it,” said Dempsey.

“We know that they like to take threes (kick penalties). And we know we like to score tries.

“We’re not thinking about whatever the points were last time we played and whatever it will be this time.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We just want to test ourselves and play our best game. That’s really all we’re thinking about.”

Dempsey has won 20 caps and established himself as a fixture in Scotland’s back row since switching allegiance from Australia to make his debut for Townsend’s team two years ago.

“Yeah, I’ve loved it,” he said. “Two years already, it feels a lot longer. There have been ups and downs like anything, but I’ve loved every second of it. I said at the time to get that second chance in the Test arena was a dream come true again.

“But to fast-forward two years and the bonds I’ve created, some of the friends I’ve made, the experiences while I’ve been over here have been unreal.

“It’s just been a good fit. I said the same thing when I moved to Glasgow, where I think there was just a bit of a need for a guy with my kind of skillset to come.

“It’s just kind of been a match made in heaven with the style Gregor wants to play, with the history and the kind of identity that Scotland have always kind of had and played with.

“They want to be an exciting team. They don’t want to play a boring brand, which is not what I want to do.

“I think all those things combined have just added to positive results and experiences.”

Related

Louis Rees-Zammit joins Jim Hamilton for the latest episode of Walk the Talk to discuss his move to the NFL. Watch now on RugbyPass TV

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

LONG READ
LONG READ Signs of promise that Wales' barren run is over and brighter times lie ahead Signs of promise that Wales' barren run is over and brighter times lie ahead
Search