SCHOEMAN IS CONFIDENT HIS COUNTRYMEN WILL FREEZE

EDINBURGH prop Pierre Schoeman has warned his Southern Kings countrymen of the torrid task they face against the capital side tomorrow evening. The 24-year-old came through the academy ranks at the Pretoria-based Bulls and knows many of the Kings team from his time in Super Rugby and the Springbok youth set-up. The South African club have a woeful record since making the switch to the Pro 14 in 2017, with just two victories and 29 defeats in 31 games. They are particularly poor on the road, with both wins coming at their Port Elizabeth home. One of those triumphs, however, came against Scottish opposition this season, when Glasgow Warriors came unstuck 38-28 in September. But the Kings must contend not just with Edinburgh’s fearsome pack, which has led them to a four-game winning streak, but also potientially freezing temperatures at BT Murrayfield. Schoeman believes the capital men will have the upper hand. ‘I have a lot of mates at the Kings,’ he said. ‘They are going to come for us. They have done some damage in South Africa, as you have seen in the past games. No surprises, we have to prepare exactly the same. ‘The Kings will come with offloads and try to exploit the forwards with their quick backs and good skills. ‘There are a lot of boys I played with at (national) Under-20s and with the Under-19s and 21s Currie Cup in South Africa — Bulls, Stormers, Cheetahs, Lions, Kings. It’ll be nice seeing them but I don’t think they like the cold that much. PE (Port Elizabeth) doesn’t get that cold even in the worst winter.’ Schoeman (below) comes into tomorrow’s game on the back of a man-of-the-match display against Glasgow at Scotstoun. After the game, Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill praised him and his compatriots Jaco van der Walt and Duhan van der Merwe for bedding themselves into the team since arriving in the last 18 months. Schoeman highlighted the atmosphere at the club as a key factor in his smooth transition to Scottish rugby after joining this summer. ‘The boys are phenomenal’ he said. ‘It’s a very professional club, which Cockers is driving strongly. ‘Discipline is key right through from the management, even to the cleaning guys it is a big policy in our character set-up. We reap the rewards on the field. ‘I learn a lot from the boys, especially at training. Guys like Allan Dell, Rory Sutherland, Darryl Marfo, all Scottish caps, you can learn from anyone.’

lSCOTLAND prop Murray McCallum has signed a two-year contract extension with Edinburgh, keeping him at the club until at least 2021. A product of Dunfermline RFC and Strathallan School, the 22-year-old has made 46 appearances since his debut in October 2016. McCallum said: ‘I’m delighted to be able to extend my stay. There’s a brilliant buzz around the club at the moment.’