Visser is backing Townsend to be successful

GREGOR Townsend is the perfect man to build on the foundations laid by outgoing Scotland head rugby coach Vern Cotter, according to Dark Blues wing Tim Visser.

Kiwi Cotter bowed out after three years in charge with Saturday’s 29-0 drubbing of Italy at Murrayfield.

While the Scots’ third RBS 6 Nations win of this year’s campaign was good enough only for a fourth-place finish, joint second if points difference is disregarded, there is no ignoring the strides forward the team have made under Cotter.

The 14-try haul gathered over the past seven weeks is a new Scottish record, while their current world ranking of fifth sees them sit above the rugby powerhouses of France, South Africa and Wales.

The task of continuing that development falls to Townsend, controversially chosen to take over from Cotter despite the incumbent’s encouraging job performance.

However,Visser reckons the man who led Glasgow to the Guinness PRO12 title in 2015 has already demonstrated a game plan that will work with the national team.

The Harlequins finisher said: “I think the style will be similar under Gregor. If you look at the way Glasgow have played over the last couple of years, they play very exciting rugby.

“I remember when I first joined Edinburgh we used to play the exciting rugby and Glasgow didn’t.

“However, there’s been a complete turnaround in the style Glasgow play. A lot of off-loading, a lot of backs play. It’s great to watch. Hopefully, it will be quite a seamless transition to Scotland for Gregor.”

Cotter is leaving his j ob with Scotland to take over as coach of French side Montpellier.