SCHOEMAN SET TO SHOW HE IS WORLD CLASS, SAYS COACH LAWRIE

PIERRE SCHOEMAN has been tipped to show his ‘worldclass’ ability when he returns to South Africa with Edinburgh in next weekend’s United Rugby Championship play-offs.

Edinburgh travel to Cape Town to face the Stormers in the quarter-finals, with Pretoria-born Schoeman set for a return to his homeland.

He left South Africa in 2018 to join Edinburgh and has since gone on to become a full Scotland international after qualifying through residency.

Schoeman has been in outstanding form over recent months — and Edinburgh forwards coach Stevie Lawrie has backed the prop to deliver a huge performance next weekend.

It could be a heavyweight contest up front, with Schoeman likely to go up against Springbok World Cup winner Frans Malherbe.

‘Pierre is world-class,’ said Lawrie, who was yesterday confirmed as Edinburgh’s full-time forwards coach.

‘He came into this environment and allowed everyone else to see what world-class looked like. That rubs off on other players.

‘To see how this guy goes in every training session and every game — he’s mad for it.

‘I believe guys like Pierre who have come from South Africa add massive value as they allow the others to see what world-class is.’

Edinburgh have recent experience of playing in South Africa following games against the Sharks and the Lions just a couple of months ago.

Indeed, they became the first visiting team to win in South Africa in the URC when they beat the Sharks 21-5 at the end of March.

Lawrie believes that experience could be invaluable. ‘I believe so (recent experience helps),’ he said.

‘As coaches, in terms of getting the load management right, it’s key that the boys are fresh going into this.

‘As soon as we got the fixture confirmed, we recognised that we wanted to get out there as quickly as possible.’