THIS IS MY BLUE HEAVEN
Denton relishes his role as elder statesman for Scotland now injury woes have abated
Watching David Denton rampaging around the training pitch ahead of Scotland’s first game of their summer tour against canada is a joy to behold.
animated, smiling, never wanting to stop. he is in his element.
it has not always been thus. in fact, it has been a rarity of late.
‘i had a bad habit of picking up injuries late in the season and missed some of the summer tours because of that,’ said Denton, who had been counted out of three of the previous five summer tours.
‘Everybody picks up injuries but, hopefully, i have had my share of my bad ones and they are a thing of the past.
‘it is never fun sitting there watching Scotland games on television like i have had to do.
‘When i was out, it brought it home to me how much it means to me to play for Scotland. how much it matters, how important it is.
‘When i was younger, the games just kept on coming. You never take for granted playing for your country but it takes time away to make you understand even more the pride you get from playing and how much you miss it.’
Denton made his Scotland debut back in august 2011 in a World cup warm-up against ireland, although he wasn’t selected for the tournament proper in new Zealand.
in the seven years since, he has amassed a total of 39 caps in what has been a stop-start international career. By way of comparison, Stuart hogg made his debut a year after his Scotland team-mate in 2012 and now has 60 caps to his name.
indeed, Denton had been absent from the squad altogether since the tour of Japan in 2016 until he was recalled by gregor townsend for this year’s Six nations.
now, he is determined to make up for lost time and, with a twoyear deal to join iconic English giants Leicester tigers from Worcester Warriors agreed, the 28-year-old certainly appears to be in a positive frame of mind for the challenges ahead.
‘it is great simply being fit enough to go on this tour for a start,’ enthused Denton. ‘things are great just now overall and i genuinely believe this is the best physical shape i have been in for years.
‘these three games against canada on Saturday, USa and argentina are chances for me to play for Scotland on a summer tour. it is also an opportunity for me to lay a marker down for a starting jersey going forward.’
With Josh Strauss and cornell du Preez falling out of favour of late and adam ashe having his own injury problems, Denton is emerging as the no1 contender to Ryan Wilson for the no8 jersey. townsend has named an experimental starting XV, so Denton finds himself as the most experienced player in the side to take on canada.
With his other back-row colleagues being the uncapped Jamie Ritchie, 21, and Magnus Bradbury, 22, who has just two caps, he is very much the elder statesman. it provides a perfect platform for him to prove his undoubted quality.
‘there is a lot of competition in the back row with Scotland and i know i have to be at my best to get a game,’ said Denton. ‘there are young guys coming through, which is great for Scotland as the more competition the better.
‘there are some top players not here for a variety of reasons, like hamish Watson, so i know competition is going to get even tougher as we get closer to the World cup.’
Denton was part of the Scotland squad for the 2015 World cup in England, playing in that heart-breaking quarter-final loss to australia.
With the showpiece occasion in Japan next year, he knows how important it is to lay down a marker on this tour — and, at the very least, keep himself at the forefront of townsend’s thoughts.
‘For me, the build-up to the World cup starts against canada on Saturday and the clock is ticking now towards the tournament,’ he continued.
‘i know the importance of these games. i can’t play myself on to the plane to Japan next year by the way i play on this tour but i can definitely play myself off it. the same goes for everybody, so there is pressure on us all to play well.’
Denton is pleased to see a familiar face in the Scotland camp with carl hogg, his former coach at Worcester, working alongside Dan McFarland as part of gregor townsend’s backroom staff.
hogg is the favourite to take over from McFarland as forwards coach once the SRU agree a release date to allow him to take on his new job of head coach of Ulster.
‘carl has been great for me and really helped my game when i was at Worcester,’ said the former Edinburgh star. ‘he has been doing the line-outs and other bits of the forwards stuff with Dan.
‘i get on well with him and it is good to have someone who has helped me over the last year here with me at Scotland along with Dan, who is also a fantastic coach.’
as for his forthcoming move to Leicester, he is well aware he needs to be playing regularly — otherwise it will be tough for townsend to justify picking him for Scotland.
‘i have to keep up my form when i join Leicester tigers, i am well aware of that,’ said Denton. ‘i need to get in the team.
‘they are a top club and playing for them in the heineken cup will be a fantastic experience but i have to earn my place.
‘Everybody knows about Leicester tigers and their proud history. they are a good fit for me as they like to play good rugby and will want me to carry the ball as often as i can.
‘i want to win silverware with them and go on to represent Scotland as often as possible and go on to represent them during the World cup. that, for me, would make it a perfect year.’