Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwani is backing star number eight Evan Roos to eventually come into the reckoning for a berth in the Springboks squad again.
Roos was not included in Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus’ squad who participated in the world champions’ recent alignment camp in Cape Town last week.
The 25-year-old’s omission was a surprising one as he has been in excellent form for the Stormers and played a leading role in the Cape Town-based outfit’s run to the United Rugby Championship (URC) quarter-finals which takes place this weekend.
Key player for the Stormers
The Stormers are set to take on defending URC champions Glasgow Warriors in an eagerly anticipated play-off encounter at Scotstoun on Friday evening and Roos is a key part of head coach John Dobson’s plans.
Roos was overlooked for the Boks’ alignment camp with Jasper Wiese, Cameron Hanekom and Juarno Augustus being preferred as the options at number eight in Erasmus’ 54-man group.
Meanwhile, fellow loose forwards like Boks skipper Siya Kolisi, Kwagga Smith, Jean-Luc du Preez, Vincent Tshituka and Renzo du Plessis can also pack down at the base of the scrum and were also part of the alignment camp.
Roos has made seven appearances for the Springboks but made his last Test appearance against Portugal in Bloemfontein last July. Since then he was sidelined for a lengthy stint after having surgery on a shoulder injury but he returned to action for the Stormers in January.
Stormers’ ‘poor outcome’ confirmed as Damian Willemse learns disciplinary fate after red card
Since his return, Roos has played in nine consecutive matches for the Stormers and scored six tries during that period.
“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.
‘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 will play a crucial role on Friday for the Stormers against the Warriors, who won the corresponding fixture between these sides in last season’s quarter-finals.
“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.”
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/stormers-coach-confident-springboks-snub-will-earn-recall-if-he-keeps-putting-his-hand-up
