Schoeman who has reaped the rewards from playing alongside another former Montpellier player, Ruan Pienaar, over the past season expects that the addition of Steyn to the line-up will take the Cheetahs to a different level.

Pienaar was hugely instrumental in the Free State Cheetahs winning the Currie Cup for the sixth time last season and the teams' early-season success in the Guinness PRO14.

Schoeman’s game alongside Pienaar went to a totally different level this season and with Steyn, at the inside centre one can expect it to improve even more.

Schoeman who has been keeping himself busy during the national COVID-19 lockdown by focussing on doing the admin work of his new business, reading self-help books and watching re-runs on the Cheetahs Currie Cup and PRO14 games, told OFM Sport that he is excited to play alongside Steyn for the first time in his career.

“They say that you must never be the smartest guy in the room, otherwise you are in the wrong room.

“Now I will have Ruan Pienaar on my inside and Frans Steyn on my outside. With that experience beside me, I cannot see anything going wrong.

“Having said that I am really excited to play with him. I have never played with him but I played against him while I was in France.

“He is an awesome guy and I think that he will bring a new life and energy to the Cheetahs.”

The backline marshal added that he cannot wait to return to the park and he welcomes the decision of SA Rugby to start a new local tournament which will feature the South African Super Rugby and Pro14 franchises along with the Griquas and Pumas.

“I can’t say that I am not excited. I am really excited about it. I’m hoping and actually praying that the tournament will be happening.

“You want to know who the best team in South Africa is and the Currie Cup is there for that, but unfortunately the Springboks don’t normally play in the Currie Cup.

“It will be awesome to have a good and stable measure between the unions and being about to measure who the best team is.

“For rugby in South Africa it will be a great boost and even for the spectators it will be awesome”.

With the lockdown restrictions expect to be lifted soon it is unlikely that spectators will be allowed to attend matches, for now, however, rugby lovers will no doubt welcome the idea of the players returning to the park.

@MorganPiek OFM Sport