VISSER IS SO HAPPY THE BOSS WILL STAY

TIM VISSER insists it would have been ‘a catastrophe’ for Edinburgh if Alan Solomons hadn’t signed a new contract to remain as head coach next season. The Dutch-born winger is leaving for Harlequins at the end of the season but was delighted for the capital club’s sake that the experienced South African is staying on. ‘To lose Alan at this point would probably have been catastrophic,’ said the Scotland international, who makes his final Pro12 outing against Leinster at BT Murrayfield today. ‘He has managed to get us to play rugby the way he wants and we’ve been successful over large periods of this season. ‘Having then to get used to a new coach and his playing style would not have been good for the squad. ‘It’s good the team have at least another year with Alan, given the number of players he has brought in and the number of players he has shown confidence in. ‘Looking at the stability Glasgow Warriors have had in their coaching has played a large part in their success. That’s something we’ve missed here, so it’s great Alan is staying.’ Edinburgh will clinch seventh place if they win today and Connacht lose to the Ospreys, which would leave the Scots facing a play-off at Gloucester next weekend to keep their Champions Cup dream alive. However, with WP Nel, Stuart McInally and Phil Burleigh now added to the team’s long injury list, they are stretched. Front-row James Hilterbrand is covering the back-row from the bench with no other specialists left fit. Leinster, by contrast, have named a strong starting XV, but Visser believes the home side can give one last big push. ‘We have a lot of talented players injured at the moment, but Alan has recruited well in terms of depth and we have some fantastic players who have done well all season. The boys keen to get another result.’