Overview
- Duane Vermeulen publicly backed Evan Roos and confirmed the Stormers forward will start at No. 8 for the Springboks’ Nations Championship test against Scotland on Saturday.
- Roos has eight Test caps all from the bench and this rare start is being used by coaches to assess whether his club try-scoring form translates to international rugby.
- Coaching staff including Tony Brown are working with Roos on ‘soft skills’ and the positional structure the Springboks expect because Test pace and intensity differ from URC play.
- Vermeulen highlighted Roos’s physical energy and ball-carrying ability but said he must add defensive nuance and discipline to fit the team’s specific style.
- The selection reflects a broader Springbok approach of using these Tests to expand loose-forward depth and give high-performing provincial players a chance to earn sustained Test roles.