Whatever the situation is with Evan Roos, one can only hope it can be fixed and the imposing Stormers No 8 can find solace that it is his rugby that will be good enough to convince Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus of his national value.
Roos, whose season was delayed because of recovery from a shoulder operation, has been exceptional for the Stormers in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship in the past four months.
Roos has started the Stormers last nine matches at No 8 and played from start to finish in the first eight of those nine matches. He was substituted on 56 minutes against the Dragons last weekend, and such is his value to the Stormers for the URC play-offs, that coach John Dobson rested him for the final league round on Friday evening against Cardiff in Cape Town.
Roos and Bulls No 8 Cameron Hanekom, both products of Paarl Boys High, have consistently been the best of the specialist No 8s in South Africa this season, while Bok flanker and captain Siya Kolisi has been outstanding playing No 8 for the Sharks.
Roos’s rugby has done the talking on the field and his rugby performances are good enough to have ensured inclusion in a Springboks squad alignment camp of 54 players.
It is surprising that Roos’s omission did not warrant discussion on the major South African rugby platforms; as if it was fait accompli that the player has fallen from favour with Erasmus.
I’d like to believe that if there is an issue between coach and player that it could be resolved, and that Roos’s talents be showcased for the Boks this season and in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
I’d like to believe that if there is an issue between coach and player that it could be resolved, and that Roos’s talents be showcased for the Boks this season and in the build-up to the 2027 World Cup.
I don’t know if there has been a fallout, but you won’t convince me that Roos is not good enough or not playing well enough, which is why I question his omission being so comfortably and calmly received.
Roos, who has played six Tests for the Boks, is 25 years old.
Erasmus has entrusted all the regulars and added a sprinkling of new blood to his final alignment camp before he picks his first squads for the home Test matches against Italy and Georgia and the season’s international opener against the Barbarians in Cape Town.
Northampton Saints No 8 and former Stormer, Juarno Augustus, has finally been rewarded for his consistency in the (English) Premiership and Investec Champions Cup.
Augustus excelled for the Saints in their shock Champions Cup semifinal win against Leinster at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin earlier in the month.
Augustus, who is 27 years old, was the under-20 World Player of the Year in 2017.
Augustus and Sharks flanker Vincent Tshituka are among the new arrivals to the Boks training set-up, with injured No 8 Jasper Wiese also included in the alignment camp.
Foreign-born Tshituka, who was as impressive with the Lions as he is with the Sharks, is officially eligible and earlier this month got his South African citizenship.
Wiese, who plays his club rugby in Japan, is currently recovering from a neck operation.
Veteran lock Lood de Jager, who was inspirational in the 2019 World Cup-winning campaign, is a welcome inclusion in the squad. De Jager has had health issues in the past two to three seasons, which has limited his Test match exposure.
Loose-forward/lock Jean-Luc du Preez, who is leaving Sale Sharks to play in France’s Top 14, is another whose good form in the Premiership has been rewarded with national recognition.
Erasmus has identified 54 players, with 18 of the invited players based overseas. That group will attend virtually while the South African-based players will gather next weekend in Cape Town, given that no South African teams are involved in the EPCR Challenge Cup and Investec Champions Cup finals to be played in Cardiff next Friday and Saturday evening respectively.
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