HE WILL be 35 years old in October. Girvan Dempsey won’t thank us for that reminder. But the venerable winger/fullback and 82-capped Ireland player faces in to his 174th Leinster game tonight still holding the respect of coach Michael Cheika. Dempsey has been one of the go-to players for Cheika this season when the frontline young guns have been sidelined; Luke Fitzgerald and Rob Kearney, being the most recent two.
The coach knows exactly what Dempsey is worth for Leinster and what he brings to the team. In the flashy, high-impact game of modern rugby, in the era of eye-catching performers, Dempsey’s experience is still preferred to some of the aspirant blades. Over a decade of international and European rugby, for Cheika, is not inconsequential.
At the fag end of the season, with league and cup tapering off and where many of the matches are pivotal to the season’s success or failure, Dempsey is still putting his hand up and Cheika, like a teacher at the front of the class, is continuing to pick him to answer the questions. Tonight at fullback he is again answering.
“That’s the challenge for us as we approach a series of successive knockout games,” says Dempsey. “It’s an exciting time for the younger players in the squad who have been blooded this year to stake a claim. But from a senior player’s point of view it’s great to be involved in two competitions and to have a chance to put your hand up for selection.”
Jim Glennon, one-time Leinster coach, then a member of the Dáil and now a rugby punter-cum-political commentator, gave Dempsey his first contract. Rugby was just turning professional and soon Glennon was gone and Mike Ruddock was at the helm. Demspey has been loyal to the province. He saw Matt Williams, Gary Ella and Declan Kidney come and go. This season he has played in 12 matches, three of them from the bench in the Heineken Cup and half of the 12 for the whole 80 minutes including Leinster’s recent win over Ospreys in the Magners league.
“At this stage of the season all teams have tough schedules, particularly more so this year because of the poor weather around the turn of the year so it’s something we have to manage and prepare for,” he says. “It’s very difficult to play three matches on a Friday-Wednesday-Friday rota as we find ourselves this week, but this is one of the challenges.”
Dempsey lines up with the exciting Andrew Conway on the wing and Eoin O’Malley in the centre with Brian O’Driscoll. You can appreciate Leinster thinking in terms of not overloading the back line with developing players. “The demands on the squad are great, but we’re fortunate we have strength in depth,” says Dempsey. “Everyone will want to make a positive impression with big games coming up. The Ospreys had demands on their squad last week and this week it’s the same for ourselves and Connacht. We know we’re in for a tough examination because they’re an improving side. I always enjoy playing in the Sportsground because the atmosphere is lively and the supporters are right on top of you.”
