Girvan Dempsey expecting tough test despite Springboks’ woes

The mood in South African rugby is understandably glum after the Springboks lost 57-0 to the All Blacks at the weekend, but none of that worried Leinster backline coach Girvan Dempsey yesterday.

The Boks’ thrashing was the heaviest in their 126-years of playing Test rugby while the Cheetahs and Southern Kings are among the stragglers in PRO14 and yet to give much indication that they are adding value to the tournament.

Dempsey though, knows firsthand how difficult playing rugby in South Africa can be, having been on the losing end of two Tests in 2004. One of those was played in Bloemfontein, which will host Leinster’s second tour match against the Cheetahs on Friday evening (Sky Sports, 8pm).