Scotland prop Rory Sutherland deserves to be part of the British and Irish Lions squad that tours South Africa next summer, according to Edinburgh team-mate Pierre Schoeman.
Pier Schoeman backs Sutherland for Lions spot
Pierre Schoeman, the South African-born prop who will qualify for Scotland next summer after World Rugby extended the three-year residency period window, believes Hawick man should be in Warren Gatland’s squad.
“He thoroughly deserves to play British and Irish Lions because he had a phenomenal Six Nations and he’s been working so hard after his injury and he’s like an animal,” Schoeman said on the Get After It podcast.
After five months off, the loosehead prop is relishing the prospect of getting back onto the pitch when rugby returns in Scotland next weekend, with Edinburgh welcoming Glasgow Warriors to BT Murrayfield, on the cusp of reaching the Guinness PRO14 semi-finals.
“We’re looking forward to facing Glasgow,” Schoeman continued.
The former Bulls prop has spoken previously of his desire to represent Scotland, and confirmed that he’ll qualify on 19th July 2021, which had led to speculation he could be part of the Lions squad himself.
However, that date is just five days before the first test, and would surely rule him out of contention – something that Gregor Townsend and the Scotland squad will, no doubt, be pleased about as they get to work with the explosive Edinburgh prop two years earlier than had been thought initially.
Schoeman is just one of a handful of South African-born players to qualify for Scotland this year.
His Edinburgh team-mate Duhan van der Merwe qualified in May, while Glasgow Warriors loosehead Oli Kebble meets the three-year residency rule in October and Jaco van der Walt, the Edinburgh stand-off, will qualify in November.
The first derby clash between Glasgow and Edinburgh will be on August 22.
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