Tim Visser aware of the importance of Scotland's clash with Wales
Tim Visser reckons he is Scotland's eternal optimist - but fears their RBS 6 Nations campaign will be headed for failure if they slip up against Wales.
Tim Visser reckons he is Scotland's eternal optimist - but fears their RBS 6 Nations campaign will be headed for failure if they slip up against Wales.
Vern Cotter's side return to Murrayfield on Saturday looking to regain the buzz which swept them to victory in their Championship opener with Ireland.
But the swagger shown in that 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 admits their hopes for a positive end to the tournament could rest of the outcome of this weekend's clash with Rob Howley's Dragons.
The flying Dutchman - who is 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 we get a win here tomorrow we're in a good position going forward."
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 that it is 10 years since Saturday's hosts last triumphed over their Celtic cousins, he replied: "I though it was eight? It's not eight? Oh, God.
"Ah well it's not a big issue for me - 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 Millennium Stadium 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 but we last beat them - but we got the win. I'm the eternal optimist but it's going to be tough game.
"We've always been confident, certainly since Vern joined up, and we try and take that into any game. It's a universal mindset that has been changed by Vern."
And the former Edinburgh wideman rejected any notion that the defeat to Les Bleus in the Stade de France had sullen the mood in the Scottish camp.
"No I'm bringing it," he replied emphatically. "It's always tough to take a defeat in a game you went into feeling confident, and we went over to Paris to try and 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 you see out every game.
"Going forward we're still confident but we have to learn from these games that we haven't won and take it forward into the rest of the campaign.
"Especially with the fallow weeks, you've got to stay focused and keep the mindset going into the next game.
"You've got to take losses in your stride and move forward. We've done that. We're by no means the finished article but we have to stay confident going forward."
Visser will hope his sunny disposition will remain in tact by the time the final whistle comes on Saturday.
He has been forced to wait his turn, with Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour now Cotter's clear first-choice 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 stand-out performer of 2017 so far.
"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 graft to be honest, flying up and down once or twice a week.
"So it's good to get a chance and try to establish myself back in the team.
"I'm looking forward to playing alongside Hoggy 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 boy and seeing how he's grown into in the last couple of years has been brilliant. It can only benefit the players around him, especially the wingers when we link up with him.
"There's some stiff competition worldwide at full-back but especially in attack he's one of the best out there. I don't like commenting on whether someone will be in contention for the Lions but he's certainly in contention."