AUSSIE SKIPPER RELISHING CLASH WITH DEMPSEY

AUSTRALIA captain James Slipper admits that facing his former international team-mate Jack Dempsey in Scotland colours will add a ‘bit of spice’ to today’s BT Murrayfield clash. Slipper played alongside Dempsey at the 2019 World Cup but they now find themselves on opposite sides after the Glasgow Warriors player took advantage of new World Rugby regulations to switch allegiance. ‘He won’t have a target on his back but there’s actually quite a few of his Sydney mates in the team who will be going after him,’ smiled the 123-times capped Wallaby. ‘I guess it adds a bit of spice to the game.’ Three years have elapsed since Dempsey won the last of his 14 Australia appearances, and Slipper knows he could make an impact off the bench today. ‘It’s actually good to see the big fella back in the international arena,’ said Slipper. ‘It’s quite odd to see him playing for Scotland but I’m sure he’s excited to play against his old team. He’s a tough player. He’s obviously a back-rower so he’s got that bit of X-factor about his game. He’s hard on the ball, good in the set-piece. He’s the type of player you can put out there and you’ve got confidence he’ll do a job for you. Hopefully, he doesn’t go too well.’ Slipper played in Australia’s previous visit to BT Murrayfield, when they lost 15-13 this time last year. It was their third defeat in a row against Scotland and Slipper is confident that former Glasgow boss Dave Rennie’s team can end that poor sequence. He added: ‘Three defeats in a row is not ideal. It’s going to be a tough one but we’re determined to win. Last year at Murrayfield was really disappointing. We had chances but weren’t good enough on the day.’