Springboks Rugby

Much to Work on Evan Roos Clearly Opens Up on Being Left out from the Springboks

On the mend after an injury, Stormers star Evan Roos has a clear understanding of what he needs to do to get back into the Springbok mix.

When the Springbok squad was first unveiled for the Rugby Championship, one noteworthy omission was that of Evan Roos after he had started two Tests – against Wales and Portugal – during the mid-year matches.

Instead, Elrigh Louw leapfrogged his way into the squad as an extra loose forward option and has since performed impressively, while BJ Dixon has also enjoyed a breakthrough season and repaid the faith shown in him by the Springbok coaches.

Unfortunately over the seven Springbok Tests that Roos has played to date, he has failed to really translate his domestic form onto the Test stage.

There is no doubt that Roos will have been given a clear ‘road map’ on what he needs to work on to get back into Springbok selection contention, and he has clearly undergone some introspection after deciding to have shoulder surgery after his omission from the Rugby Championship squad.

Evan Roos has work to do to get back into the Springbok picture

During a Champions Cup media engagement in Cape Town, Roos said his injury recovery was going well, and that he was ready to make a fresh start once he was able to return to action.

“You are part of the Springboks set-up and all of a sudden you are not. You see the Springboks doing well, beating New Zealand twice, the match in Cape Town, so mentally it does affect you,” he stated, as quoted by Rugby365.

“However, if you are grounded well, have a good foundation and are focused on the things that matter in your life and not the materialistic stuff, you are better off.”

Roos also explained that gaining some more experience at No 8 would help him to remain composed in big moments, while hopefully cutting out some of the ill-discipline and basic errors that have plagued his play at times.

“I want to keep working on what I have achieved so far and just get better at the small technical aspects and those things that come with experience. Enjoy my rugby again.

“I have been hard on myself this past year and a half. Being dropped out of the Bok side just before the World Cup and getting injured in the middle of the Bok season, so I’ve been too hard on myself and pushed myself.

“I think I do stupid things, try too hard, so my mentality now when I go back is to enjoy it.

Bigger picture thinking

On the eve of the Rugby Championship, Rassie Erasmus also reiterated that Roos was not completely out of the picture.

“We are building squad depth,” Erasmus added. “We know what Evan can do, he certainly didn’t have bad games. And we know he is comfortable in the Springbok set-up.”

DO YOU THINK THE 24-YEAR-OLD STILL HAS A BRIGHT BOK FUTURE?

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