Vernon aims to rise to the challenge of Premiership

The breakaway forward was one of the nation’s big successes during the World Cup campaign in New Zealand. But he believes he will immediately prove himself after arriving “under the radar.”

Former Glasgow player Vernon made his first start for Sale Sharks at the weekend, when his try wasn’t enough to stave off their LV Cup defeat by Gloucester at Kingsholm.

But despite the setback, he is looking forward to his Premiership challenge.

Vernon, who claimed the man of the match award in the defeat against England in Auckland earlier this month, said: “I’ve got a point to prove after what happened in New Zealand.

“And rather than sit and dwell on things, it was great to come straight back to Sale from the World Cup.

“A lot of people down here maybe won’t know too much about me because I came under the radar so I want to make my mark.”

Vernon admitted he would love to follow in the footsteps as ex-Scots skipper Jason White.

He said: “Jason is a great role model. He was pretty much unknown when he first came to Sale a few years ago, but he did absolutely brilliantly and the goal for me is to try and emulate him.

“His example is there to follow and if I achieve half of what he did then I’ll be happy.”

Looking back on the World Cup, Vernon added: “It was a real case of ‘what if’ for me and the rest of the Scotland guys.

“I think it will take a long time to get over it and for it to sink it. A lot of work and preparation went into the World Cup, both before and during the tournament, and we just felt that we let ourselves down a little bit.

“We were close but, in the end, we weren’t good enough and it was a case of what could have been.”