30 Jul 2024, 17:05#1
Roos will return, but for now Elrigh gets his chance to shine.
It’s time for Elrigh Louw to grab his chance for the Springboks and make his mark.
And no, Evan Roos has not been thrown away, and will be back in the national side before long.
That’s the message from coach Rassie Erasmus as he prepares to leave for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship along with the squad for their opening two games against Australia in Brisbane and Perth.
Erasmus said the team picked for Australia was with specific goals in mind and would be selected so that the Boks had the option of two strong loose trios for the two tests.
He also clarified that Louw was being given a chance to show his worth against a top nation.
“I think we have two full loose forward trios. Marco and Siya can play six, Pieter-Steph and Ben-Jason can play seven and Kwagga and Elrigh can play eight. Elrigh can also play seven. Certainly Evan is not out of the mix. Prior to the Portugal test match we told the guys - you get a chance here, go out and show your hand.
“There were a few new dogs in the neighbourhood, start lifting your leg and make a mark there. Certainly a few guys did,” he explained.
“Elrigh - we certainly want to experience him against big nations because he was part of our plans always, but he certainly did take a dip in form, and he will admit it himself. We know what Evan can do, and Evan is not thrown away - we still have nine test matches away.
“So like we did against Argentina away last year, we picked a lot of guys and a different team. It is about building squad depth and we know what Evan can do.
“He didn’t have bad games and we now can see he is comfortable in the Springbok setup, and we now can give Elrigh a chance to show what he can do.”
A CHANCE TO IMPRESS
Erasmus also countered the narrative that Roos plays differently for the Stormers than for the Springboks and that is why he has apparently fallen out of favour.
The Boks have given Roos a chance against Wales and Portugal, with Kwagga Smith facing Ireland in two tests and Louw likely to start against Australia.
With Jasper Wiese’s suspension ending ahead of the All Black tests, he is likely to resume his role at eight for those two tests and then the Boks will give others a chance against Argentina.
At least, that seems to be the recipe for now.
“No I don’t think so, on defence it is pretty much the same as it is with the Stormers. Most of the South African teams have the same mindset and systems when it comes to defence.
There may be small tweaks here and there but we are pretty familiar to the way that the Stormers defend with Norman Laker there.
“On attack we have a different attack coach. If it was something like that when Felix (Jones) was the attack coach, it is certainly not something with Tony Brown. It is purely that he has six or seven caps now and Elrigh has a bit less and we are trying to get more caps across the squad. We know what he can do and we have no problem with what he did for us but it is time to give Elrigh also a chance against top tier nations and see what he can do.
“Because the Bulls went the deepest in the URC competition and he was certainly one of the more physical players in that setup.
“There are no prescriptions - none more than what we would have for Elrigh, or Pieter Steph or anyone else. I wouldn’t say we are punching his play in, I would say we are more encouraging Evan to play the way he wants to play and he certainly did. He made a few errors like anyone else who hasn’t got 10 caps under their belt, he would make some errors.”
And with Cameron Hanekom almost recovered from his injury, he will also knock hard at the door for the Boks and could be in the camp sooner than later.
Either way, the shuffling of eights is less of a concern than a strategy to get the best out of the immense talent the Boks currently possess.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
30 Jul 2024, 17:12#2
Let’s just hope we see Louw at 8 and not Kwagga who is not an 8’s backside
30 Jul 2024, 17:56#3
Yes that would be good if Elrigh starts at 8….Although Kwagga,s stats was not to bad against Ireland, he is better playing at 6….Elrigh will make his impact and is a strong Ball carrier.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
30 Jul 2024, 21:24#8
You are spot on Draad and Moz is speaking utter horseshit as usual
As I predicted good old Moz has a target on Roos’s back now - pathetic really
We are going to hear the anti Roos for the next decade
Roos is a generational talent just like Moodie and Sacha are
Has never had a fair crack in tests, never consecutive selections, never an investment unlike Wiese who is half the talent Roos is
30 Jul 2024, 21:41#9
Some valid points Draad….Rassie wants all the players, but to actually somehow give them all the proper game time seems to fall flat…then after that, they join the never never land team…Anycase I do feel Elrigh can play 8, but played 7 most of the time for the bulls …Andre Esterhuisen also never gets a fair chance and somehow doomed to hover on the outside, close to the inside….he is doing a great injustice to some of the players that is not his ultimate favourites.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 07:33#13
Wiese was also shit when he started as was Kwagga and BJ Dixon has been good but no better than Roos has at test level
Moz stop fucking lying about Roos being stripped by the Portuguese wing stick to the facts and reality if you want to pathetically target Roos
As for Roos this is what Rassie has said on him:
Rassie Erasmus says that while Evan Roos isn’t out of his plans, the Springboks want to give Elrigh Louw a crack at No 8 in the Rugby Championship.
Roos, who started in the Test against Portugal, was left out of the 33-player squad that will depart for Australia on Wednesday for two Tests against the Wallabies to open the tournament.
With Jasper Wiese still suspended, Louw is the frontrunner to take over the duties at the back of the scrum.
The 24-year-old earned his fourth cap off the bench in Bloemfontein, but could make his first Test start in the Brisbane opener.
Another option to complete the back row is Kwagga Smith – used primarily as an impact player, he started in both July Tests against Ireland.
“We’ve got two full loose trios,” Erasmus explained. “We’ve got Marco [van Staden] and Siya [Kolisi] who can play six, Pieter-Steph [du Toit] and Ben-Jason [Dixon] who can play seven, and Kwagga and Elrigh who can play at eight. Elrigh can also play at seven. Pieter-Steph won’t be used at eight.
“Evan definitely isn’t out of the mix. Before the Portugal Test, we told the guys that they are getting a chance and to go express themselves, put up your hand and show us that there are a few new dogs in the neighbourhood, lift your leg and make a mark.
“A few guys certainly did that. We also want to give Elrigh experience against the big nations. He was always part of our plans. His form took a dip, he will admit that himself.
“We know what Evan can do. Evan hasn’t been thrown away. We still have nine Test matches this year. It’s about building squad depth. Evan certainly didn’t have bad games. He is comfortable in this setup.
“Now we can see, if Elrigh gets his chance, what he can do.”
31 Jul 2024, 09:44#14
Jasper Wiese is definitely not only dumb muscle and does provide the necessary grunt, defence, strong ball carrier and link to the Backline Players. He is 28 already and will still be ok for the next WC, but not a further Future solution. One thing is for certain, someone will fall off the Bus when it comes to the 8 man position and I am willing to bet that it won’t be Cameron Hanekom. Good thing for Roos is that he can play 6 as well and Louw 7 and Hanekom at 8… that’s a combo that we will see sooner than later. Flexibility is the answer for a loose forward, especially with Tassels as the Coach.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 10:30#15
Bullshit does Wiese provide a link to the backline I don’t think I have ever seen him pass
He is pure dumb muscle - effective dumb muscle but that’s all he is
Players like Roos, Hanekom and Emmanuel Tsituka are all better athletes and far more skilful - they are true linking 8’s
31 Jul 2024, 10:51#16
Are the Tsituka brothers SA citizens already? What baffle’s me is that Rassie will show interest in Orie or Pepsi, not that Pepsi is bad, but those brothers are tough and skilled. I wonder if Rassie even knows who they are? Must be the Citizen thing…Is Madosh Tambwe a Citizen already?
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 15:46#17
Apparently the Tsituka brothers and Tambwe do not have SA citizenships and given Tambwe is in France he will probably not bother
31 Jul 2024, 17:50#22
Moz do you Rate Kollisi to be more physical than Roos? In my opinion if Kollisi can make it at this level, so can Roos. Same counts for Eskom van Staden and Kwagga.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 20:34#24
Roos not physical enough bwaaahaaaaa
Let me guess old powder puff Mostert is more physical than Roos
I see the childish anti Roos is in full swing
Just a pity you have to resort to lying to make your weak points
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 20:39#25
Draad agreed I don’t get why v Staaden gets selected - he is strong for his size, but offers nothing in general play. Good over the ball when he actually ever does try effect a turnover. He is not athletic and has a limited skill set
I don’t get his selection. It does not help I guess that we have very few good specialist opensides in SA. Our two best are in their 30’s
The one good prospect we had in Dylan Richardson was stupid enough to get capped by Scotland
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 22:26#28
Roos will be another PSDT he will be world renowned but Moz will keep telling us how useless he is
It will be interesting to see which player embarrasses Moz more by the end of their careers -PSDT or Roos
Let the contest begin
My call is that Roos will embarrass him more
MOMozart
Captain49,914 posts
MOMozartCaptain49,914 posts
31 Jul 2024, 22:38#29
Sure like Luke Watson, Lambie, Meisiekind, the Duds and the Deysel twins embarrassed me….hahaha. Stripped by a little Portuguese wing.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
31 Jul 2024, 22:52#30
Stop lying it’s does not raise your credibility stakes
01 Aug 2024, 00:10#31
I don’t think we will have to wait for long….I think Roos will get his chance again perhaps vs the AB ( I do think Jasper who is back from his Ban will play) but it might be against the Pumas or possibly on the EOYT.
Then there is also the return of Cameron from injury that will definitely get his chances to.
Rassie might be saying that Roos is not forgotten and that he fits the Bok System well, but choosing Elrigh for the stiffer competition that OZ brings and excluding Roos completely is not such a positive sign for Roos.
In my opinion he should have picked Roos in the Squad to. Start Elrigh in one Test and Roos in the other one. Any case we will have to wait and see, but it will be suspenseful.
SASaffolk
Captain30,741 posts
SASaffolk Captain30,741 posts
01 Aug 2024, 07:48#36
You are lying there is a huge difference between having a player actually rip the ball from you in a one on one upright confrontation
That never happened - Roos got through the first defender who got enough on him to cause him to fall forward (balance gone as he was no longer upright on his feet). On his way down he fends off the wing with his left arm and in the process losses possession of the ball in his right arm. The ball bounces onto the wings stomach, it pops up and the wing flicks it to a support player
That is not having the ball ripped off him by a small wing - you are lying and that’s a fact. All in some pathetic attempt to discredit Roos
The same boring bullshit we are forever now going to hear about Roos. It really is pathetic but we’ll continue to laugh at your expense
01 Aug 2024, 07:54#37
Blob can you or someone put the video on here of the moment Roos gets stripped of the ball… I looked at the game again but did not clearly see this happen….I do see something similar to what Dave is describing, but not clear enough….I stand by saying that if the above mentioned players can make it, so can Roos.