Rugby – Visser says more is needed in attack despite 1872 Cup triumph

By Stephen Brunsdon

Edinburgh secured the 1872 Cup for the first time in six years with a 20-8 victory over Glasgow Warriors at BT Murrayfield on Friday.

Finn Russell opened the scoring for Glasgow before Sam Hildalgo-Clyne put Edinburgh in front with two kicks from the tee. Two tries from winger Tim Visser helped the hosts move further ahead and Edinburgh led comfortably at the break, 20-3. Glasgow fought back in the second period through an opportunistic try from Niko Matawalu, but Edinburgh held on in the dying minutes to secure a famous win.

Despite scoring a brace of tries in first half, Visser emphasised the need for a stronger Edinburgh attack, in order to create more scoring opportunities, something the Scottish internationalist believes has been lacking for some time.

“I think this is obviously a derby that has been hugely emotional over the years, one that I’ve never been able to win. In my six years here, it’s the first time I’ve been able to win, so that’s memorable”, said Visser. “A lot of my tries [in the past] have simply been finishing off what other people have created, and I don’t think we’re creating enough. That’s something we need to improve on as a team.”

“We’ve been hugely defensively focused, something we’ve been very poor at in the past. Now we’re very good at defending but we need to develop our attacking game I think”, he added.

Team-mate Matt Scott (pictured above) echoed Visser’s sentiments post-match, and while bemoaning the lack of attacking threat from both sides, the centre was happy to test his own game through a new partnership with Kiwi Phil Burleigh.

“He’s the type of player I’d like to play with, he’s a good distributer and he’s a smart player as well so I look forward to getting a string of games together with him. I defend at 13 so it’s good for the development of my game as it’s a tougher position to defend; you’ve got more decisions to make with decoy runners and speedy guys. I’m learning a lot and could seamlessly go back to 12.”

With the morale-boosting victory, Edinburgh have moved up one spot to joint seventh in the Guinness PRO12. Both Visser and Scott as well as head coach Alan Solomons know that to achieve automatic qualification for next season’s European Champions Cup, a top six finishing position is essential.

“We have a tough job ahead of us, we’ve always said our aim is to try and make the top six. We’ve got a massive game next weekend, Connacht are playing really well, unbeaten at the Sportsground”, said Solomons.

Visser concurred with his coach, stating that Connacht are now a force to be reckoned with.

“They are not the team they used to be anymore so there are no easy games anymore in this League. It’s going to be a tough game but we can take this momentum forward to that I think.”

For Scott, the message was simple enough: “In the context of our season, getting into the top six, it’s a game we must win.”

Edinburgh face Galway side Connacht next Friday at the Sportsground, kick-off 19:35 GMT.

Image by John Preece