Dissembles about representative coming to the first final in the south (8)
I believe the answer is:
pretends
'dissembles' is the definition.
('pretend' can be a synonym of 'dissemble')
'about representative coming to the first final in the south' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'about' could be 're' ('re' means regarding or about) and 're' is present in the answer.
'the' could be 't' (the is pronounced as a 't' sound in some dialects) and 't' is present in the answer.
'final' could be 'end' (synonyms) and 'end' is found within the answer.
'south' could be 's' (abbreviation) and 's' is found within the answer.
A single letter 'p' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pretends that I've seen before include "Makes believe" , "Creates false appearance or impression" , "Creates false appearance to deceive" , "Affects" , "Feigns, dissembles" .)