Pierre Schoeman posing with a British and Irish Lions shirt at Murrayfield last month The television show Outlander, writer and artist Kahlil Gibran and Perth's mining heritage do not often all get mentioned in the same media conference. But Scotland prop Pierre Schoeman is not a standard interviewee. The South Africa-born forward appears to be one of the more philosophical members of the British and Irish Lions squad that is touring Australia this summer. And the 31-year-old, one of eight players born outside the British Isles and Ireland in Andy Farrell's party, has dismissedquestion marks over their rightto be in the squad. "If you're good enough to play for your country and then you're good enough to play for the Lions and you're selected, obviously you're going to do that," said Schoeman, who has 42 Scotland caps after qualifying through residency. "Scotland is home for us, my wife and myself and other players as well. You embrace that, you fully take that on. "It's like Outlander. You move to a different country and now that's your house. You live there. You buy into the culture and now to represent the British and Irish Lions, you fully buy into that, you fully submerge into that. "Nothing else matters, not your past, not the future, it's about the now. "Kahlil Gibran says it in one of his books quite well and that is, 'yesterday's gone forever, tomorrow might never come, now is the time to live'. "That's what you do as Lions. It's about the now - this tour, that's what really matters." Saturday's second warm-up match for the Lions has a Scottish connection of its own, taking place in Perth. "It was massive for gold mining so we know all about Perth now," added Schoeman. "We love Perth. Perth is actually from the Scottish town on Perth. We know some great stats about it. It's the most isolated city in the world. "We respect the Western Force, we know they're going to up the ante. It's a once in a lifetime for most of those blokes. "They're going want to prove they're good enough to go against the British and Irish Lions, so we have to go beyond and prove why we're the British and Irish Lions. "It's going to be a brilliant spectacle. It's going to be enjoyable." Schoeman featured for the final 21 minutes as the Lions lost 28-24 to Argentina in Dublin on Friday. Now the focus turns to tour matches in Australia and, alluding to Gibran's philosophy again, Schoeman is giving no thought to the first Test on 19 July. "It's not focusing on what's ahead, it's about now," he said. "You have to feel the responsibility of, what's it like, 50,000 fans or more coming to Australia, so you have a massive obligation, a responsibility. "And if you're not pulling together, there's no space for dead weight on this team. Everybody needs to push in the same direction."
'Like Outlander' - Schoeman all in with Scotland & Lions
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"Pierre Schoeman Emphasizes Team Spirit and Cultural Embrace Ahead of Lions Tour"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Pierre Schoeman, a South African-born prop for the Scotland rugby team, recently shared his thoughts during a media conference, where he drew interesting parallels between his experience in rugby and the television show 'Outlander'. As a member of the British and Irish Lions squad touring Australia this summer, Schoeman emphasized the importance of embracing the culture of the country he now calls home. With 42 caps for Scotland, he qualified through residency and expressed that the national identity is not just about where one is born but where one chooses to live and represent. He stated, "If you're good enough to play for your country and then you're good enough to play for the Lions and you're selected, obviously you're going to do that," highlighting the merit-based nature of team selections. Schoeman's reflections were influenced by Kahlil Gibran's philosophy, which underscores living in the present and fully engaging with one's current circumstances, a mindset he believes is crucial for the Lions as they focus on their upcoming matches.
As the Lions prepare for their second warm-up match in Perth, Schoeman acknowledged the significance of the city, noting its Scottish connections and its status as the most isolated city in the world. He expressed respect for the Western Force, the team they will face, recognizing that the local players will be eager to prove themselves against a prestigious opponent. Schoeman is keenly aware of the responsibility that comes with playing in front of a large audience, stating that everyone on the team must contribute positively to achieve success. He reiterated that the focus should remain on the present moment rather than future matches, including the first Test scheduled for July 19. With a blend of cultural appreciation and philosophical insight, Schoeman's approach encapsulates the spirit of the Lions, emphasizing teamwork and dedication as they embark on this unique tour in Australia.
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