Visser to ditch Dutch as he bids for Edinburgh deal

Sep VISSER has revealed he is ready to put his international rugby career with Holland on hold to use a spell with Boroughmuir as a stepping stone to a full pro contract with Edinburgh.

The 21-year-old notched a brace of tries from full back in a 44-22 victory at Edinburgh Accies which moves the Boroughmuir club he recently joined from Tynedale up to second in the Premiership and undoubtedly served further notice of his ambitions with some skilful inter-play and backing up.

Afterwards Visser, younger brother of current Edinburgh star, Tim, said: “I have seven caps for the Dutch team including playing against Germany, Malta, Poland. Our next international is in November but I’m not sure I’m going to play. I’m really focused on playing well here and maybe getting a contract with Edinburgh.

“I’m training with Edinburgh so we’ll see what happens.

“I was at Newcastle last year and it didn’t really work out with their academy so I came here when I can also get help from my brother.”

Visser has already had a taste of pre-season action with Edinburgh and the more Boroughmuir continue in their present vein of form the better the chances of several of their players getting a step up.

Down 24-0 at the interval, Accies were left playing catch-up, albeit the likes of half-backs Alex Black and Ruaridh Bonner in particular were never completely subdued.

Visser acknowledged the ’Muir backs had been given the ideal platform by an abrasive forward unit on which to demonstrate some sublime passing and support running, saying: “The forwards worked well so we got clean ball and with Ally (Warnock) at 10 and Harry (Leonard) in the centre we could get ball out wide. My plan was to get a bit more involved and I’m glad that happened.” Visser was right to pinpoint the abilities of Leonard and the experienced Warnock while on the left wing Jordan Webster ran hard and straight.

Overall, the Boroughmuir coaches were entitled to be purring contentedly and head coach Fergus Pringle, wearing a plaster cast as a legacy of a broken arm sustained when he came off the bench against Hawick, remarked: “What makes this even better is the fact we have climbed the table despite having used 33 players in four league games so far because of injuries and unavailability.”

That theme was echoed by Pringle’s assistant, Phil Smith, who spoke of selection headaches ahead of two challenges against Gala (home) and Melrose (away) over the next fortnight. Said Smith: “In the first 20-25 minutes we had the game won early. We scored three high quality tries and snuffed them out. That was exactly how we trained. We have kind of threatened teams a bit and stepped back. Hopefully that was a bit of a statement. Accies’ handling was good as well but it was just that they were maybe not as direct as we were.

“Next up are two Border teams and that will be different challenges. While we have Ally Davidson and Neil Rodger away this week and (captain) Malcolm Clapperton normally able to slip back in when he recovers from injury it is going to be difficult to say to somebody ‘you didn’t play well enough’ so you’re out.

“But we need the experience of the Clappertons Warnocks, Crombies and Davidsons with so many youngsters around including flanker Alex Henderson whose tackle count for a 17-year-old was immense.”

Accies coach Simon Cross hailed Boroughmuir as the best side his team have come across since returning to the top league this season. “Boroughmuir are well coached to get players into as much space as they do. We found it difficult to deal with,” admitted Cross, adding: “In the first half we created opportunities but had difficulty making the last pass. Credit has to go to Boroughmuir for a clinical performance. Having said that it was disappointing to come away with nothing and although we kept going to the end (Accies claimed two of the last three tries) I’d expect nothing less.”

Inevitably there was some disruption with Edinburgh pros Andy Kelly and Stuart McInally withdrawn from the bench in view of injuries sustained elsewhere in the Pro 12 League squad. However, Cross played down any problems along with the fact second row Greg Campbell had only flown back from a business trip to the US a few hours before kick off.

Harry Leonard scored the first of ’Muir’s six tries then, after Rob Cairns had sprinted over, unselfishly laid on the third for Visser with Warnock’s goal-kicking taking the visitors further ahead. Alex Black, with a try, and Ruaridh Bonner’s conversion and penalty gave Accies hope but Webster went over and set up a try for Warnock before the final few minutes saw Dan Teague and Chris Murray book-end a second try by Visser.

Scorers:

Edinburgh Accies: Tries: Black, Teague, Murray. Conversions: R Bonner (2). Penalty: R Bonner.

Boroughmuir: Tries: Visser (2), Cairns, Webster, Leonard, Warnock. Conversions: Warnock (4). Penalties: Warnock (2).

Edinburgh Accies: E Bonner, J Pecqueur, G Douglas, I Berthinussen, J Sole, R Bonner, A Black, D MacLeod, M Liness, C Murray, G Campbell, R Snape, D Teague captain, T Drennan, J Taggart. Subs: K Blyth, S Jeffery, A Graham, M Campbell, J McSorley.

Boroughmuir: S Visser, R Cairns, H Leonard, S Wilson, J Webster, A Warnock, S Johnson, N Fraser, S Crombie captain, B Blair, G Scott, M Harvey, A MacLeod, J Swanson, A Henderson. Subs: C Mackintosh, R Hislop, W Kay, M Hare, H Fenton.

Referee: Mr R Dickson (St Andrews).