Optimist Visser aims to scratch 10-year losing streak

Challenge: Dutchman relishing Scotland chance

Tim Visser reckons he is Scotland’s eternal optimist, but fears the six nations campaign will be headed for failure if they slip against Wales.

Vern Cotter’s side return to Murrayfield on Saturday looking to regain the atmosphere which swept them to victory in the championship opener against Ireland.

But the swagger shown in the impressive win against Joe Schmidt’s team ended up a stagger as the Scots slumped against France in Paris last time out.

Now Harlequins wing Visser fears hopes for a positive end to the tournament could rest of the outc ome of today’s match against Rob Howley’s Dragons.

The Dutchman, preparing for first appearance of this season’s competition, said: “Statistically the third game is always key. I’ve learned that our six nations campaigns make or break with just one game and this is the one where it’s important we get a result.

“If weget awin we’re in a good position.”

The history books do not offer much hope for the Dark Blues and it is just as well Visser has not read them.

When it was pointed out to the 29-year-old it is 10 years since the Scots last won against their Celtic cousins, he replied: “I though it was eight? It’s not eight? It’s not a big issue for me as I’m the eternal optimist.

“The stats don’t lie. Wales are a good team. We’ve had some narrow defeats against them in recent years, I remember losing here by three points couple of years back.

“Going to Cardiff is hard but it’s always a different game at Murrayfield. I remember sitting here last year at this time against France and it was a similar story – it was 10 years since we last beat them – but we got the win.

“We’ve always been confident, certainly since Vern joined up, and we try to take that into any game. The approach has been changed by Vern.”

The former Edinburgh player rejected any notion the defeat to Les Bleus in the Stade de France had darkened the mood in the Scottish camp.

“No I’m bringing it,” he replied emphatically. “It’s always tough to take a de- feat in a game we went into feeling confident, and we went over to Paris to try to win there, no secret in that. To not get that result was tough but it’s a long campaign and especially nowadays with the new rules concerning losing bonus points it’s very important we see out every game.

“We’re still confident but wehave to learn from these games that we haven’t won and take it into the rest of the campaign.”

Visser will hope his sunny disposition will remain intact by the time the final whistle blows.

He has been forced to wait his turn, with Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour now Cotter’s firstchoice partners for Stuart Hogg in the back three.

But a rib injury suffered by Maitland while on duty for Saracens last week has opened the door and Visser is now looking forward to reuniting himself with Hogg, who with three tries has been Scotland’s standout performer of 2017.

“It’s good to be back,” he said. “I’ve been in and out of camp in the last two or three weeks which has been quite hard gr aft, flying up and down once or twice a week so it’s good to get a chance to try to establish myself in the team.

“I’m looking forward to playing alongside Stuart again. He’s an interesting character, I’ve known him for years. When I first joined Scotland back in 2012 he was just a young player and seeing how he’s grown into it has been brilliant.”

“We’ve had some narrow defeats against them in recent years”

SUNSHINE SMILE: Scotland wing Tim Visser