B&I Lions selection saga: Pierre Schoeman hits back at critics
SPOTLIGHT: Pierre Schoeman says he is “fully submerged” into the British and Irish Lions’ culture ahead of their Australian tour opener against the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.
The prop is one of eight Southern Hemisphere-born players in Andy Farrell’s squad for the tour, and it’s something that has caused a lot of debate.
Many critics argue that it’s excessive and harming the B&I Lions culture.
Former England scrumhalf Danny Care said that “it doesn’t sit that well with me”, while B&I Lions great Willie John McBride said it “bothered” him.
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Schoeman and fellow South African-born star Duhan van der Merwe are two of those players who will have a spotlight on them in Australia.
They have established themselves as stalwarts for Scotland over the years, and Schoeman insists that they are ready to give everything to help the Lions secure a series victory.
“If you’re good enough to play for your country, you’re good enough to play for the Lions and you’re selected, then obviously you’re going to do that,” said Schoeman.
“Playing for the Lions is massive. Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself. I know that’s for the other players as well, like Mack Hansen has made Ireland home.”
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He added: “You embrace that. You fully take that on. It’s like the series Outlander – you move to a different country and now that’s your house. You live there.
“If you work for one of the big four in finance, you get the opportunity, you’re going to go for it. And you can really make that home.
“But this is much different. To represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that and its culture. You fully submerge into that. Nothing else matters. Not your past, not the future. It’s about the now.
“Yesterday is gone forever, tomorrow might never come, now is the time to live. That’s what we do as Lions. It’s about the now, this tour. This is what really matters.”
Sources and additional reporting: PA News Agency & @RugbyPass
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