Moffat Hands Visser League Debut

The 22-year-old Dutchman, who joined Edinburgh from Newcastle in May, has featured in the warm-up matches against Harlequins and the Falcons and Moffat believes the powerful back has done enough to warrant selection.

Moffat said: "He has done well. In the short time he has been here, he has trained hard, applied himself well and he is looking sharp.

"He is a big lad who is quick and I think he adds a different dimension to the back division."

Visser - the only professional rugby player from the Netherlands - was overjoyed by being selected and says his family will try and watch the match on television.

Visser said: "I'm delighted to have been given a chance to show what I can do so early on in the season.

"Hopefully my family and my local rugby club back in Holland will be able to watch the game and I'm really looking forward to helping Edinburgh get off to a positive start."

After winning the EDF Energy Cup last season and reaching the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup, Cardiff are one of the favourites to win the Magners League this season.

But Edinburgh have won their two previous matches in the Welsh Capital and Moffat revealed he realises it will be a physically demanding test.

He added: "It will be a physical game. We have won on our two previous trips to Cardiff and we know what they are about.
"They are a strong, powerful outfit. We know that if we are going to win there again on Friday that we have to be on top of our game.

"We need to match Cardiff physically and if we can do that then we will be able to play our game."

At full-back, Chris Paterson has recovered from a hip injury, but wing Simon Webster misses out through an Achilles injury.

Lock Jim Hamilton is still ruled out with a knee injury while scrum half Mike Blair and hooker Ross Ford are rested for the opening match of the season after their duties with the British and Irish Lions.

Stand-off Phil Godman reclaims the number 10 jersey after shaking off a thigh problem while replacement David Blair (shoulder) is also restored to fitness.

In the back row, Allister Hogg will lead the team alongside summer signing Roddy Grant, a National Academy graduate, and last season's Player of the Year, Alan MacDonald.

The average age of Edinburgh's substitutes is just 22-and-a-half with hooker Sean Crombie, flanker Fraser McKenzie and scrum half Ross Samson all in line to make their Magners League debuts.

Scotland centre Nick De Luca is also named amongst the replacements after successfully recovering from an operation on his lower abdomen, which took place four weeks ago.

As a result, Moffat praised the 25-year-old's eagerness to return and also highlighted the work carried out by the club's medical staff.

He said: "He has done really well and all the medical staff deserve a pat on the back for getting him back so quickly.

"That has a lot to do with Nick's attitude and his willingness to get back. It is good to see him back in the squad."


Edinburgh Rugby Club team to play Cardiff Blues at Cardiff City Stadium (Friday 4 September, kick-off 7.05pm, live on BBC Wales)

15 Chris Paterson

14 Mark Robertson
13 Ben Cairns
12 John Houston
11 Tim Visser

10 Phil Godman
9 Greig Laidlaw

1 Allan Jacobsen
2 Andrew Kelly
3 Geoff Cross
4 Craig Hamilton
5 Scott MacLeod
6 Alan MacDonald
7 Roddy Grant
8 Allister Hogg (captain)

Substitutes: Sean Crombie, Kyle Traynor, Steve Turnbull, Fraser McKenzie, Ross Samson, David Blair, Nick De Luca.