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Rassie Tweets shock Springboks omission Evan Roos

By Ian Cameron
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Springboks director of rugby Rassie Erasmus has reached out publically to snubbed Stormers back row Evan Roos.

Roos was a surprise omission from South Africa's alignment camps earlier this month, with many tipping the forward to be a future star for the Boks.

Comments made by South African selectors suggest that it's a case of a glut of talent in the back row for South Africa. Head coach Jacques Nienaber and co. are currently banking on the experience of Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Pieter Steph du Toit, Kwagga Smith and Leicester Tigers' newbie Jasper Wiese for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Maybe by way of response, the 22-year-old loose forward delivered a standout in Cape Town last night as the Stormers swept aside URC rivals Glasgow Warriors with an impressive 32-7 bonus-point win. Roos secured the bonus point try in the 79th minute after cutting a wonderful line off an attacking play in Glasgow's 22 before sidestepping the cover defence to rumble over.

It didn't go unnoticed by the social media savvy Erasmus.

"Well done Evan Roos, that’s how you react to disappointment and make sure you can't be ignored!" wrote Eramsus on Twitter.

Erasmus' public praise for the youngster was well-received on social media, just weeks after his exclusion from the alignment camps was widely decried.

Respected rugby writer Jon Cardinelli wrote: "Evan Roos with fantastic awareness. Great finish for the big man, and for the Stormers..."

Stormers head coach John Dobson believes his inclusion at Test level is just a matter of time, not least given his performance as the Stormers bagged their sixth consecutive win and seventh consecutive home win.

“Evan was superb," said Dobson. "The way he was attacking them in the second half off nine… that’s the thing about Evan, he does the hard carries. It’s incredible. He was superb, again. I am sure his rewards will follow.”