Back at Loftus Versfeld for the first time since leaving the Vodacom Bulls in 2018, Pierre Schoeman says he has no regrets over his chosen path to play for Edinburgh and Scotland.
Schoeman will play against his former team at his old stomping ground when the Vodacom Bulls host Edinburgh in the second round of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship on Saturday.
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The 28-year-old started his professional career in Pretoria, but left South Africa four years ago and has since qualified to play for Scotland on the residency rule, winning 12 Test caps to date.
“No, I’ve nothing to prove for anybody except myself,” Schoeman told The Scotsman. “I’m very proud to play for Edinburgh and Scotland.
“It’s really cool to play for Edinburgh against the Bulls at Loftus. These are my roots. It’s where I came from and played high-school rugby.
“Now I get to do it with my mates in Edinburgh. For me, that’s such a nice thing.”
Having beaten the Vodacom Bulls 17-10 at the Dam Health Stadium last season, Saturday will be the first time that Edinburgh plays against the Pretoria-based team at altitude.
“The altitude does play a role in these games as well as the physicality of the South African sides,” said Schoeman. “Mentally it can play a big part as well.
“I don’t have to kick or chuck 30-metre passes. Well, hopefully not! But for the guys that do these things, the distance changes. It can take a little while to get used to it. But we’ve been trying to adjust.”
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