Springboks: Rassie Erasmus responds to ‘completely wrong’ claim as he makes Evan Roos Rugby World Cup prediction
Stormers number eight Evan Roos and an inset of Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus.
Rassie Erasmus predicts that Evan Roos will be back in the Springboks squad in 2027 as he clears the air about the Stormers star’s continued omission.
The 25-year-old has played just one Test match in 2025, when he came off the bench against Italy in Port Elizabeth, but was overlooked for the Rugby Championship squad and November internationals despite somewhat of a crisis at number eight.
Jasper Wiese was banned for the opening stages of the Rugby Championship after his red card for a headbutt in the second Test against the Azzurri, while Jean-Luc du Preez had injury struggles.
Bulls stars Cameron Hanekom and Elrigh Louw were both ruled out of the entire international season due to injury, but that still did not pave the way for regular involvement for Roos in the Springboks set-up.
Not a personal issue
This, despite the fact that the back-rower has been in stellar form for the Stormers in recent times, particularly at the start of this season, with back-to-back Man of the Match awards in the URC.
His repeated omissions from Springboks squads has led many to speculate that there is a personal issue with Roos, which Erasmus dismissed in June when he was called into the mix following a setback for uncapped call-up Juarno Augustus.
“I saw the things that people wrote, but if you speak to Evan, he will tell you there is no personal issue,” he told reporters. “Sometimes, we all differ on opinions on who plays well and who doesn’t, and sometimes the guy is by all means Springboks standard, but at this stage, he is just competing with guys.”
Rassie Erasmus dismisses ‘personal issues’ with Evan Roos after initial Springboks snub
Erasmus has included Roos on the standby list for the November internationals, but has provided further clarity around his omission from the travelling squad via his X account.
“What happened between you and Roos, oom [uncle]? You need to clear the air cause this isn’t a normal situation,” a supporter asked Erasmus after the Bok boss posted a cryptic message seemingly hitting out at Jan-Hendrik Wessel’s ban.
The head coach explained that Wiese and Kwagga Smith are currently ahead of Roos in the pecking order in the staff’s eyes, but backs the loose forward to force his way into the mix next year.
“My friend his a world class player and will play many test matches for the Boks, we just have to really good eights in Jasper en Kwagga and in my opinion they are still delivering at a higher level than Evan!! So who to. dropp One thing is a given he is a test match player and will probably make it in 2027,” Erasmus wrote.
This prompted another reply from a fan, which Erasmus replied to, with John Holdsworth stating: “Kwagga is a world-class player and individual, but he hasn’t excelled in the No. 8 position. With all due respect and no arrogance meant, he wouldn’t be a starting 8 for any top-tier provincial or international side. You’ve gotten this selection completely wrong.”
Seemingly wary not to get into a back-and-forth with the supporter, Erasmus replied: “Obviously, we are not always right, and I hear and understand what you say!! thanks for the way you discuss these things! I. appreciate it! Ras”
Erasmus has repeatedly stated that he is happy to cop criticism from fans on the chin as it shows how deeply the supporters care about the team, and as he alluded to in the social media post, the coaching staff do make mistakes too.
