Rugby: Sep Visser is keen to emulate brother Tim at Edinburgh

SEP VISSER will step up the quest to emerge from the shadow of older brother Tim when Edinburgh Rugby tackle Ospreys at Murrayfield tonight.

The 21-year-old is already versed in the Rabo Direct PRO12 scene, having made four starts, including a memorable occasion in Ulster last season when both he and his elder sibling scored tries, but couldn’t prevent Edinburgh slipping to defeat.

He also turned out against Cardiff, Munster and Dragons in 2011-12 as well as having the final eight minutes of Edinburgh’s previous match this season, in Ulster also.

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This selection, however, is different. This selection is at home and it is a chance to really introduce himself to fans eager to see the team provide a boost after seven straight defeats in all competitions.

“I have run out at home before, but only in pre-season and this represents a first competitive start for me,” says Visser Jnr, who has put a six-cap Netherlands career on hold as he bids to establish himself at Edinburgh.

“I have a contract up until the end of this season and I’d like nothing more than to take any chance to show the coaches I am worth an extension,” he said.

Sep is certainly determined having headed north from Newcastle around 18 months ago to take up the offer of training sessions with Edinburgh when things weren’t working out on Tyneside. A combination of those sessions and occasional game-time with Boroughmuir – where he invariably stands out at Premiership level – eventually paid off and tonight he will be in the company of other up-and-comings such as Tom Brown, Dougie Fife and Gregor Hunter keen to seize one last chance before the international brigade return from autumn Test duty.

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In the case of Hunter, there is further competition looming in the form of new signing Piers Francis, from Waikato, who arrived in the Capital on Wednesday night. Confirming that Francis had touched down, Edinburgh coach Michael Bradley said: “Piers will be involved next week.”

Bradley would like nothing more than to head for his old Connacht province with Francis on board and the monkey off his team’s back.

“We are really focused on getting a win as soon as possible,” he said. “Ospreys have won five in a row, but we had two very close games last year, so we don’t fear them especially at home.

“Hopefully our determination will get us over the line. We just keeping doing our work properly and in our last home match against Scarlets we were two points up with three minutes to go then gave away a penalty in the last couple of plays.

“Sometimes when you come off the treadmill it is difficult to get back on it again, but there is a good determination about the boys to start winning again.”