Rugby: Tim Visser says Edinburgh can topple giants Toulouse

Within minutes of signing a contract extension that keeps him in the Capital at least until 2015, the Dutch-born winger made it clear that Europe’s ultimate club prize might even be within the scope of an Edinburgh team currently providing nine players to Scotland’s Six Nations squad.

Said Visser of a tie scheduled for Murrayfield on Saturday, April 7, and for which 8000 tickets have already been sold: “Toulouse are a good team but they are not the team they have been in the last couple of years. They are a big French club but I don’t think they are as dominant as they have been historically. They have to come to Murrayfield and that is a big advantage for us.

“Murrayfield is an imposing place in which to try and get one over on us. I assume it is going to be a big crowd and a lot better than having to go away to Toulouse.

“Anything’s possible and if we play with the intent we have done in the Heineken Cup so far I truly believe we can get through to the semi-final.

“However, we have to take it one game at a time and show respect for a team like Toulouse. “

Toulouse provide eight players for the French squad that faces Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday. And winger Visser, who becomes eligible for Scotland on residency in mid-June, believes a more direct approach will pay dividends for the country he is soon to adopt in rugby terms at least. “Looking at Scotland they do play an expansive, exciting game of rugby. They put a lot of phases together. The problem is you can play expansive rugby but you have to go forward at some point. Scotland may as well keep the ball in hand but go straight.”