Guinness PRO14 interviews brought to you by [Big Red Cloud](https://www.bigredcloud.com/) **Embrace the calm. That’s the message Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill has been stressing to players and coaches as the Conference B leaders navigate their way through this period of downtime.** Speaking exclusively to Premier Sports’ Sean Holley for pro14.rugby Cockerill reveals in Part 1 just how his players are coping, how he has approached and developed coaching philosophy, what is building at Edinburgh and just what it’s like to pencil in names like Schoeman, van der Merwe and Mata on his teamsheet each week. But right now, as players in particular search for ways to keep fit without matches or training, Cockerill has stressed the need for everyone to stay mentally fresh and enjoy a period with no performance pressures. *“I’ve gone down the line of leaving them a lone a little bit,” Cockerill explained about the players. “We don’t know when the season’s going to restart, so the reality is that this could our summer holiday time if we end up playing in August and then into a new season depending on what happens.* *“We’ve dropped kit off so they can keep fit, but I’ve encouraged them to get away from rugby and spend more time with their families, have conversations they haven’t had for a long time and the single boys with the girlfriends and married guys with no kids to just relax.”* Cockerill also explained to Holley that it isn’t just players who need to take advantage of this down time. *“Just taking the time to keep their minds and bodies fresh and enjoy it. Same with coaches, they say we’ve got time we need to be busy, well, there’s a little bit to get on with but let’s take a deep breath and if there are any more positives to take out of this situation then just take some time to destress and relax the brain matter. Don’t try to find something to do, when really there isn’t anything to do.”* Watch all of Part 1 on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/user/RaboDirectPRO12/)… Last week Opta revealed the top 10 best performing players in the Guinness PRO14 this season and it comes as no surprise that Cockerill’s men were represented by front rower Pierre Schoeman and lightning wing Duhan van der Merwe. The South African duo are part of Edinburgh’s impactful foreign legion which also includes Fijian back row Bill Mata. All three are a key complement to a strong Scottish squad and Cockerill admits they make an impact away from the pitch as well. *“If you want to raise the standard and if you want people to learn from other players and see what it looks like guys like Schoeman, his work ethic and effort every day is as good as I’ve seen in any player in any squad,”* Cockerill said. *“Duhan’s got pace to die for and Big Bill, he’s got magic when he carries the ball with those offloads. Those things make a big difference and in big games those guys at key moments give you that little bit of difference, the little bit of x-factor … sometimes you need guys other teams are scared off.”*
