Rugby: Scotland coach admits Dutchman will be in frame

Speaking at the announcement of a pool of 34 players for the forthcoming Autumn Tests against New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa, Robinson also reflected on Edinburgh's start to the season - and highlighted the form of Visser in particular.

"Tim Visser's try-scoring feats have been pretty exciting," said Robinson of a winger who notched five touchdowns in the opening four games.

Such exploits further vindicated Robinson's decision to sign Visser from Newcastle when he was Edinburgh coach.

And Robinson added: "He (Visser] has a long way to go but it will be good when he is available for Scotland."

Altogether there are 12 Edinburgh players in the latest squad including Jim Thompson and Greig Laidlaw who are part of an uncapped quartet.

Others hoping to win their spurs this Autumn are Northampton threequarter Joe Ansbro and Glasgow stand off Ruairidh Jackson who has edged out Edinburgh's David Blair for a spot.

However, Robinson was at pains to stress the progress being made by David Blair and also Fraser McKenzie.

Making it clear both David Blair and McKenzie just needed to maintain current form to merit consideration for the Six Nations Championship it was the latter who particularly pre-occupied the coach.

Referring to the 22-year-old's weekend display as Edinburgh went down 27-31 to Northampton in the Heineken European Cup, Robinson said: "To play like Fraser did at second row is hugely exciting. If he does that week after week he'll come into the reckoning for the international stage.

"I can't pick players on one great performance though and there has to be consistency. They have to be playing at that level every time for the full 80 minutes."

Robinson, who also praised the early season Edinburgh contributions of skipper Roddy Grant and Ross Rennie, whom he has brought back into the Test fold after injury, refuses to write off the possibility of a late surge to Heineken Cup qualification.

That would mean winning all four remaining games including Castres and Northampton away but Robinson said: "I've been delighted by the way Edinburgh are attacking. They can still qualify."

Alas, for each of the 15 tries Edinburgh have scored one has been conceded, and Robinson added: "While Edinburgh attacked brilliantly in Cardiff at the beginning of the season they let in a couple of sloppy tries."

Robinson will wait until the opening Test against New Zealand on November 13 when Scotland aim to make it five successive matches unbeaten before deciding whether to rotate his squad for the subsequent fixtures against South Africa and Samoa.

"I'm taking it game by game," he said. Likewise no decision has yet been made on captaincy at a time when Al Kellock and Chris Cusiter are definitely out.

Among the contenders is Mike Blair who previously led Scotland to a Calcutta Cup triumph and, while giving nothing away, Robinson noted the scrum half's improved form.

Whether that is enough to give him the edge over main rival Rory Lawson, with Greig Laidlaw breathing down the neck of both front runners, remains to be seen.

But on Blair's general improvement after a disappointing 2009-10 season by his own high standards, Robinson said: "Seeing Mike Blair come back to world-class levels has been great."

Elsewhere among the Capital contingent Robinson has kept faith with Alex Grove even though the centre has just been dropped from the starting line-up and Ben Cairns steps back up after being relegated to the A squad during the summer.

Chris Paterson will be in line for a 101st cap following his horrendous kidney injury in Cardiff last February and among the forwards the entire Edinburgh front row of Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Geoff Cross feature.

Restored to the cap scene in Argentina last June Scott McLeod will be looking to carry on where he left off while Alan Macdonald has timed his comeback well from recent injury to merit inclusion.