Ospreys flanker Dan Lydiate says Evan Roos has done enough to earn a Springbok call-up ahead of the Boks’ three-Test series against Wales in July.
Lydiate, a 64-Test Wales veteran, is set to feature against the four-match unbeaten Stormers on Saturday at Cape Town Stadium, and he believes the irrepressible form of Roos will be hard for the Bok selectors to ignore for much longer.
The Stormers No 8 is the leading ball-carrier in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this season and he ranks second overall for metres run. Also, the 22-year-old Roos was named Man of the Match as the Cape side won a tightly contested encounter against an Ulster side that included current Bok eighthman Duane Vermeulen.
Lydiate, who made his Test debut at the age of 22, said: “There has been big talk [in Wales] about him going on to play for the Springboks, which you can definitely see. He played Duane Vermeulen last week in a good head to head – they’re not short of good back-rowers out here in SA!
“He’s certainly not just one for the future but one for now, and you’ve got to be on your game to keep him quiet. He sort of reminds me of [former Bok No 8] Pierre Spies at how quick and powerful he is.”
But, Lydiate knows that nullifying the Stormers cannot just be about stopping Roos if the Ospreys hope to bounce back from Friday’s crushing defeat to the Lions. The veteran flank has identified the threat of wily ballhawk Deon Fourie, along with lock Marvin Orie, who had a short-term loan at Ospreys in 2019.
“[The Stormers] are going to go through purple patches in games, but we need to try to limit their opportunities and starve them of the ball as best we can,” Lydiate said.
“Defensively, they’ve got poachers who really like to get over the ball, especially in that back row, so we need to be quick to get into position at the breakdown and not let them get a sniff of the ball.
“Their back three are so dangerous, and Marvin Orie was with us a couple of seasons ago, so it’ll be good to play him.”
Can we take a moment for the pace of Evan Roos?! 🤯#URC | #STOvCAR | DHL @THESTORMERS pic.twitter.com/n03puwU9gS
— United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) March 20, 2022
