The National Times - Dempsey eager for Scotland's 'ultimate test' against South Africa

Scotland posed few problems as South Africa ran out 18-3 winners in a World Cup pool-game in Marseille in September last year.

The Springboks went on to be crowned world champions for the second successive tournament -- and a record fourth time in total -- but Scotland back-row Dempsey cannot wait for another crack at the Springboks.

"I'm itching for it," he said Wednesday. "It's the ultimate test."

The Australia-born Dempsey, 30, added: "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.

"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."

Scotland ran in eight tries as they opened their November campaign with a 57-17 rout of Fiji at Murrayfield last weekend.

By contrast, they were unable to manage a single try during their World Cup meeting with South Africa.

"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."

Dempsey, who previously played Test rugby for his native Wallabies, has won 20 caps for Scotland since changing allegiance from Australia to make his debut for Gregor 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."

G.Waters--TNT