Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani has expressed confidence that Evan Roos will work his way back into contention for the Springboks squad. Despite Roos being left out of head coach Rassie Erasmus’ alignment camp in Cape Town last week, Hlungwani believes the dynamic number eight still has what it takes to wear the green and gold again.
Roos, known for his powerful carries and physicality, has been a standout performer for the Stormers. While his omission from the recent Springbok gathering may raise questions, Hlungwani remains optimistic, suggesting that continued strong performances at club level could reopen the door for national selection.
Evan Roos’ omission from the Springboks’ recent alignment camp has raised eyebrows, especially given his standout performances for the Stormers this season. The 25-year-old has been a driving force behind the Cape Town side’s run to the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals, where they will face defending champions Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun on Friday evening.
Crucial to Stormers’ Success
Roos has been a cornerstone of John Dobson’s squad, consistently delivering physical, high-impact performances from the back of the scrum. His form has made him one of the URC’s most influential number eights this season.
However, despite his contributions, he was overlooked for Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus’ 54-man alignment camp, with Jasper Wiese, Cameron Hanekom, and Juarno Augustus getting the nod as preferred options at No. 8. The competition is stiff, with versatile loose forwards like Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Jean-Luc du Preez, Vincent Tshituka, and Renzo du Plessis also capable of playing at the base of the scrum and included in the camp.
Road Back to the Boks
Roos, who has seven Test caps, last played for the Springboks in a July 2023 Test against Portugal. A shoulder injury requiring surgery kept him out of action for several months, but he made his return to the field in January and has since been instrumental in the Stormers’ resurgence.
While his exclusion from the latest Springbok setup may be a setback, Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani remains confident that Roos can earn a recall, especially if he continues to perform at a high level during the business end of the URC.
Since returning from his shoulder injury, Evan Roos has been in red-hot form, featuring in nine consecutive matches for the Stormers and crossing the try line six times — a remarkable return for a number eight. His powerful ball-carrying and work rate have been vital to the team’s late-season surge.
Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani addressed Roos’ omission from the Springbok alignment camp with a measured perspective:
“I think that our mindset is very simple with regards to our players – if you’re in the Springbok alignment camp, yeah, we celebrate you and are happy with you,” Hlungwani told reporters.
This approach highlights the team’s support for its players regardless of selection status, while also suggesting confidence that consistent domestic form, like Roos is currently showing, can eventually lead to international recognition.
‘Keep looking for improvement’
“And if you’re not there, the best thing we can always tell you is to work harder, keep looking for improvement, and that’s the same thing we’ve sort of told Evan.
He knows he can always be better, and that’s where his mindset is now. He’s just going to keep working and keep putting his hand up, and that opportunity will eventually come again.”
Roos is expected to play a pivotal role on Friday when the Stormers face the Glasgow Warriors, who defeated them in last season’s quarter-final matchup. His performances will be key as the Stormers aim to overturn that result and progress further in the United Rugby Championship playoffs.
“We need to make sure that on both sides – backs and forwards – that we operate really well, because these guys \[Glasgow] will find a weakness,” added Hlungwani.
“We have to be sharp as a pack, but the backs also have to be really sharp.”
