Stormers coach on Evan Roos' Bok snub: 'Keep working and the opportunity will come'

Roos was not included in Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus' squad for the world champions' recent alignment camp in Cape Town.

The 25-year-old's omission was a surprising one as he has been in excellent form for the Stormers, playing a leading role in the Cape Town-based outfit's run to the URC quarter-finals. The Stormers are set to take on defending champions Glasgow Warriors in an eagerly anticipated play-off encounter at Scotstoun on Friday evening and Roos is sure to be key to their chances of winning.

However, he 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 invited to the camp as well.

Roos has made seven appearances for the Springboks but made his last Test appearance against Portugal in Bloemfontein last July. He was sidelined for a lengthy stint after having surgery on a shoulder injury, returning to action for the Stormers in January.

Since his return, Roos has been in top form, playing in nine consecutive matches for the Stormers and scoring 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.

"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."

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