He may not be due to arrive in Scotland until the end of this week but Alan Solomons made it clear that shoring up one of the leakiest defences in European rugby will be his priority by bringing defence coach Omar Moeneimne with him to Scotland.

Having joined a team that during immediate predecessor Michael Bradley's time in charge often played stylish rugby but conceded more tries in his two years there than any other in the RaboDirect Pro12, Solomons clearly sees his fellow South African as the man who can introduce improved structures and resolve.

"Omar is a world-class rugby coach," he said. "He's absolutely superb in his specialised field of defence and the breakdown, and is the best I have ever worked with. He's been my right-hand man and done a fantastic job during what was an extremely challenging Super Rugby season, just as he did in last season's unbeaten Currie Cup run.

"He is a really good bloke and a great team man. There is a terrific synergy between us and I'm looking forward to continuing our partnership alongside forwards coach Stevie Scott at Edinburgh Rugby."

The make-up of that coaching team reflects the need to balance sorting out Edinburgh's problems with the development of homegrown coaching talent.

Too often in the past head coaches have been introduced in Scotland, whether with national teams or professional clubs and have found themselves forced to work with existing backroom teams, whereas it is customary in elite sport for those in charge to bring in trusted confidants.

However, it is also vital that the Scottish Rugby Union starts to find ways of giving Scottish coaches opportunities in the professional game, as reflected in the appointments of Scott and, at Glasgow Warriors, that of Kenny Murray as assistant coaches.

As well as being trusted by Solomons the new defence coach brings significant experience in his own right having begun working as a collision and breakdown specialist for the South Africa sevens team seven years ago, going on to coach South Africa under-20, before joining Western Province and the Stormers sides in 2008. Since then he had a spell as Italy's defence coach before he joined Solomons.

On the face of it their experience of Super XV rugby might offer some cause for concern since, in their only campaign this year, the franchise finished bottom of the table winning only three and drawing one of its 16 matches, while conceding more points than any other team and no fewer than 69 tries.

Getting up to pace in that high-octane competition is a formidable challenge, however, and their unbeaten season with Eastern Province which took them to the title in the Currie Cup first division, the second tier of South African domestic competition offers something of a counter-balance in that regard.

Certainly that provides some evidence to support the contention of David Davies, Edinburgh's managing director, that: "Omar has a history of building defences that are combative and tough to beat, something which we want to become a key feature of this club in the years to come."

That the pair have an established understanding ought to make it easier for both to settle in and establish their principles with the squad and for his part Moeneimne is clearly relishing this new opportunity.

"The sport has taken me to Edinburgh a number of times throughout my career and I've always left with a sense of awe for the history, the character, and the values of strength and courage," he said.

"There is a tremendous amount of potential in Edinburgh Rugby. It's the type of club I believe can go far. It will truly be an honour to be part of it."