The 25-year-old did not make the cut in 2011 but has since gone from strength to strength in the GUINNESS PRO12 with Edinburgh, and Vern Cotter has not left him out of Scotland's World Cup squad this time after recovering from a head injury he sustained in April.
But Denton insists he won't be satisfied unless he holds on to a starting place for Scotland.
"It has been an incredible journey for me," Denton told the Daily Mail. "When I first came over to Scotland I knew I wanted to play professional rugby but I wasn't 100 per cent certain that I could.
"It was something I was going to try and make happen. I had played for Eastern Province back in South Africa but was I going to make it in the big, bad world of pro rugby?
"I didn't know if I could when I first arrived. I knew I could play but could I make the transition in Scotland? I only started believing it could happen after I got my first few matches for Edinburgh under my belt.
"Four and a bit years on from that to now to be part of the World Cup squad is awesome but I want to earn a starting place. I am in a highly-contested position and a lot of very good players have missed out already."
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