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Mon 18 Jun 2012 | 02:23
Scotland go two from two as they beat the Flying Fijians

21
Comments

Tim Visser scored twice on debut as Scotland beat Fiji 37-25 in Lautoka, Fiji on Saturday. They are now aiming for a tour grand slam as they face Samoa in a week's time, a match that Visser believes they can win.

Scotland are on a high after their famous win over an Australian side, and now this one in sunny Fiji. Their game against Samoa is expected to be their toughest of the tour however.

"It had been great for our confidence to be able to beat the Wallabies in bad weather. Then to be able to win in this heat was even better. We are now in a position to make it a clean sweep, which is incredible," said recently qualified Scotland wing Visser.

"Samoa will be a brilliant experience and another massive challenge, especially when you consider it will be even hotter than Fiji. Three wins out of three on the tour would be a marvellous achievement — something really special.

"The last time Scotland were in Fiji they took a hammering, so to earn this result against such a passionate bunch of lads was awesome."

The game was finely poised at one stage and Fiji looked as though they could come back and snatch it, but the second Visser try put things out of reach.

Unfortunately the broadcast from Fiji wasn't the best, so the quality of the footage isn't great. One of the Fijian tries was also missed due to a break in transmission. Highlights are posted below anyway, and if you'd like to watch the full match, you can do so here.

Posted By: Grant Constable

21 Comments

  • reality
    9:26 PM 19/06/2012

    Laidlaw? Really? Do you not remember the last time they brought such a defensively weak outhalf on tour? It was disastrous. They'll bring Sexton, maybe Farrell or Flood, and a few Welsh outhalves more than likely.

  • rugby08
    6:54 PM 19/06/2012

    Scotland have an b team though, so the U20 thing wouldn't count for them

  • rugby08
    6:52 PM 19/06/2012

    Not both teams though

  • pretzel
    12:40 PM 19/06/2012

    Brilliant for clearing that up Reality, I wasn't sure how it worked, I assumed (or incorrectly heard) it was done on citizenship, but thanks for clearing that up.

    I sort of agree.... I can only hope that the international players do actually have a strong tie to the country they end up playing with, rather than as you said, doing it because it was the only international offer they get...

  • breakaway
    6:51 AM 19/06/2012

    The irony of your post is that you accuse NZ of poaching and then go on about how well Visser's career prospects are looking. The most prominent recent AB with Fijian heritage that I can think of is Rococoko who went to NZ as a five-year-old.
    On the other hand Visser was already a mature rugby player in the Netherlands when he was scouted by the Newcastle Academy during a sevens comp and lured into UK rugby.
    I've got no problem with that, but if you're going to talk about poaching I know which of those scenarios fits the definition best.
    Anyway, Visser looks a good player and if he can inject some life into the Scot's backline then good on him.

  • pretzel
    2:50 AM 19/06/2012

    Close maybe... but there'll only ever be one Bill McLaren :(

  • cheyanqui
    2:16 AM 19/06/2012

    is it just me, or does the commentator sound like he's channeling Bill McLaren?

  • 07015678
    1:50 AM 19/06/2012

    TIM VISSER IS THE MAN! Lions have definitely got to take Visser, Denton, Rennie, Hogg, Gray.

  • ando
    12:02 AM 19/06/2012

    Never ever? That IS surprising!

  • 11:58 PM 18/06/2012

    I was trying to explain to my french teacher the ethos of rugby, that shot of them huddled together at the end explains it all.

    Visser is a beast, will tour and challenge for a lions test. North, Cuthbert, Ashton and bowe will be hard to obercome. Ashton because of rep by the way, I don't really rate him.

    Hogg, rennie, Grey, blair and the hooked will go as well. Laidlaw too if the selectors have balls

  • moddeur
    11:45 PM 18/06/2012

    I don't mind it so much. I lived 4 years in an Indian Ocean island near India and grew quite attached to my friends there. I would have gladly played for the national team (if I had had any ounce of a good level of play). People tend to get attached to the place they live, so it doesn't shock me so much.

    Though rugby is probably the only sport where this makes any sense (at amateur club level we trade players with other teams sometimes - and look at the Northern Irish and Irish players, reunited under the same jersey).

  • 11:22 PM 18/06/2012

    Its an aftermatch prayer, they do it after every one

  • guy
    10:22 PM 18/06/2012

    I understand what you say and where you come from. In this case however I am glad this rule exists. Since I am from the Netherlands I am under the impression that Visser is the closest thing to anything that'll bring us some international fame on the global rugby stage, at least in my lifetime.

    Except for the Dutch sevens ladies; they are doing very well too.

  • reality
    10:08 PM 18/06/2012

    It's not a case of having citizenship; it's just that they've lived in their host country for three years, and therefore under the IRB rules become eligible to play for the country. It's a bit stupid really, because if you had to get citizenship before you played for the country, it would show that you actually have made a long-term commitment to the place, rather than the way it is now, where South Africans, Fijians and such get to represent their host country just because they've been employed there for three years and because their own national team never capped them.

    I mean Tobias Botes (100% South African), for example, who plays for Italy, is obviously only there because Treviso was the best (or only) offer he got to play professional rugby. And now he's playing for the national team, but will more than likely leave as soon as his career finishes. It kind of devalues the idea of playing for a country, when a bunch of foreigners who don't have any link to their 'country' and who are only there because they can make money play for the national team.

  • cheyanqui
    9:41 PM 18/06/2012

    Guy,
    Totally agree.

    The only thing missing in the circle is the Scottish captain thanking the Fijian #8's mother for bringing the orange (or is it mango in the islands?) slices for halftime.

  • pretzel
    9:12 PM 18/06/2012

    I am sure that Visser has qualified because he has lived in Scotland for X amount of years, much like Manu Tuilagi has for England... So effectively Manu is English as he has gained English residency, or citizenship and Visser is Scottish because he has gained Scottish citizenship (As far as I know)...

    If either danced over to France they'd still have their original residency already done, so they'd probably be fine...

    I too thought the huddle at the end was brilliant, showed the real spirit of the game, and it was nice to see 2 international professional rugby teams doing it.. I can't say I've ever done that in club rugby, so again its a shock to see it in internationals!

  • guy
    8:49 PM 18/06/2012

    That last shot of everybody circling up is just priceless. I can not imagine that happening in any other sport. But I might be wrong...

    Also, big up for Scotland for visiting the 'smaller' island rugby nations. I read comments somewhere else that the people over there are very happy to receive a touring squad since they seem to be overlooked a little by some of the bigger nations.

    One question: Visser qualifies for Scotland on residencial grounds. What happens if he decides to go and play in France for example? Does his qualification still stand because he already has his first Scottish cap?

    Great to see him score for the national team too, by the way.

  • facepalm
    8:24 PM 18/06/2012

    Visser (and Hogg) do seem very promising. The next 6 Nations will be a great test of his ability. I'm really looking forward to seeing him against tougher opposition. A huge prospect.

  • tullowtank
    6:35 PM 18/06/2012

    Very interesting to see Visser in the international game, Scotland are beginning to get a useful attacking backline. Thought for some time now that Visser could even be a Lions starter, serious pace and power. A big step up to be made though from Pro 12 to lions but I would be surprised if he didn't go on the tour at the very least.

  • cheyanqui
    6:30 PM 18/06/2012

    sick pass on that Fijian try.

  • pretzel
    5:50 PM 18/06/2012

    Well with a scoreline like 35-27 against the Fijians, I'd say its definitely a strong victory for the scots... But would it be too "black and white" ;) to say they'll carry it on to next years 6N?

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