Springboks: No space for Evan Roos in the squad for Australia tour
Evan Roos of South Africa attempts to get past Adam Beard of Wales and Dan Lydiate of Wales during the 2022 Castle Lager Incoming Series match between South Africa and Wales held at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein, South Africa on 09 July 2022 ©Shaun Roy/Sports Inc
Number eight Evan Roos has been omitted from the 34-man Springboks squad for the two-Test tour of Australia in rounds three and four of the Rugby Championship.
The Stormers star has only featured in one of five Tests for South Africa this season after easily being the best player for the duration of the United Rugby Championship.
Veteran Duane Vermeulen retains his place in the squad alongside Jasper Wiese, who are the specialist number eights available to coach Jacques Nienaber.
Expect changes for Argentina
The coach said changes would be made to the squad that will tour Argentina as the Springboks look to build squad depth toward the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
“We have been working with a large group of players for the last few months and we believe this will pay off in the long run as we look to expand our depth for the Rugby World Cup and beyond,” said Nienaber.
“Since we are going on tour, however, we will take a group of players that is more in line with the size of a Rugby World Cup squad, and our thought process is that we will have two groups of players – one who will participate in the Australian leg of the competition and another for the Argentina matches.
“This way we can manage the players as well as possible on tour, while at the same time ensuring we continue to develop our depth and give the players opportunities to prove themselves with a little over a year to go before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.”
Travelling with two hookers
Regular starter Bongi Mbonambi has been ruled out for four weeks with a knee injury. Still, the Springboks have opted against adding another hooker to the squad and remain with Malcolm Marx and Joseph Dweba with the versatile Deon Fourie as a back-up option.
Teenager Canan Moodie retains his place and may get a chance at a Test debut as the Springboks are short of options on the right wing with Cheslin Kolbe out with a broken jaw and Kurt-Lee Arendse out through suspension.
The in-form Damian Willemse remains a key member of the squad owing to his versatility across almost the entire backline.
“Bongi has been ruled out for four weeks, but Deon, who is an experienced hooker and flank, has been practising his lineout throws with us, so we are confident that he will be able to fill that void for us in these matches,” said Nienaber.
“We are also excited to see how Canan slots in during the next few weeks and to see how he adapts to our structures and systems, and we believe he has the skills to slot in for Kurt-Lee and Cheslin.
“This is a settled group of players and includes a wide spread of experience and young players who have made their presence felt, and we believe that they have what it takes to guide us back on track in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in the matches against Australia.”
Nienaber says the team is disappointed to have lost to the All Blacks but turns their attention to Australia, who beat them twice last year.
“We are bitterly disappointed about the defeat against New Zealand last weekend, and we know that we have to be at our best to fight back in the next four matches of the competition to keep us in contention to win the tournament,” said Nienaber.
“We saw what Australia are capable at home last year and we know that we will be tested thoroughly.
“The last time we beat the Wallabies in Australia was in 2013, so we have a big mountain to climb over there, but that said, we have looked at our game against New Zealand and we know what areas we need to improve on, and we will put in the hard work on the field to iron out those aspects when we arrive in Australia.
“It is going to be a tough tour, but we know what our players are capable of, and we are determined to make our nation proud.”
Springbok squad
Forwards: Steven Kitshoff, Vincent Koch, Frans Malherbe, Ox Nche, Trevor Nyakane, Joseph Dweba, Malcolm Marx, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Siya Kolisi (c), Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Jasper Wiese, Duane Vermeulen, Deon Fourie, Franco Mostert
Backs: Faf de Klerk, Jaden Hendrikse, Herschel Jantjies, Cobus Reinach, Elton Jantjies, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi, Willie le Roux, Canan Moodie, Warrick Gelant, Damian Willemse, Jesse Kriel, Frans Steyn