Honest introspection from Evan Roos
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The long injury lay-off has given Evan Roos a new lease on life, the Stormers' loose forward revealed.
In 2022, a 22-year-old Roos burst onto the scene during the United Rugby Championship. He played a colossal role in the Stormers' URC title charge and scored a try in the Final against the Bulls.
In that year he claimed URC Players’ Player of the Season, Fans’ Player of the Season and Next-Gen Player of the Season.
He was also included in the URC Dream Team.
His incredible season at the franchise earned him a Springbok call-up and he made his Test debut on July 9, 2022, against Wales.
The Paarl Boys alumnus was one of the unfortunate ones to miss out on South Africa’s final World Cup squad of 33.
The No.8 returned to the Springbok set-up after the World Cup.
But after featuring in the Springboks' win over Portugal in Bloemfontein in July, he was not selected for the Rugby Championship squad.
Following his omission, the 24-year-old decided to have surgery on his shoulder that has troubled him for months.
Not a stranger to injuries, Roos admitted that this time around there were some mental challenges he had to overcome
"It's my first big injury," said Roos at a Champions Cup media engagement in Cape Town.
"The operation went really well.
"Luckily out of the sling quickly, the shoulder is very mobile. I started small gym movements as well.
"Mentality in the beginning was quite tough and also a bit of a shock.
"You are part of the Springboks set-up and all of a sudden you are not. You see the Springboks doing well, beating New Zealand twice, the match in Cape Town, so mentally it does affect you.
"However, if you are grounded well, have a good foundation and are focused on the things that matter in your life and not the materialistic stuff, you are better off.
"I think if you put your whole identity into rugby, you can fall off the bandwagon quite quickly."
Roos has been touted to be the next Springbok No.8 following the retirement of Duane Vermeulen last year.
But the 24-year-old has struggled to make the jersey his own, with Jasper Wiese, Kwagga Smith and now Bulls' Elrigh Louw all in the running for the position.
"It's a position that requires a little bit of experience," said Roos.
"Duane Vermeulen only made his debut at 26 or 27, I got thrown in the deep end and got mine at 22.
"Duane was at the Pumas, Cheetahs, Stormers and accumulated a lot of experience. Obviously, international rugby is something different, but I think all those years of playing Currie Cup and Super Rugby prepped him well.
"I'm not saying I started too early, I'm truly blessed to have earned my cap so early, but things come with time. I think it's a journey and with this injury, I've learned not to rush things, enjoy the present."
When asked about returning to the field next year, Roos stated he wants to add additional elements to his game and is eager to once again prove himself in a Stormers jersey.
"I want to keep working on what I have achieved so far and just get better at the small technical aspects and those things that come with experience.
"Enjoy my rugby again.
"I have been hard on myself this past year and a half.
"Being dropped out of the Bok side just before the World Cup and getting injured in the middle of the Bok season, so I've been too hard on myself and pushed myself.
"I think I do stupid things, try too hard, so my mentality now when I go back is to enjoy it.
"Play well for the Stormers and if the Boks need me I will enjoy it there.
"But that is not my mindset now. Obviously, it is at the back of my mind but I first just want to enjoy my rugby playing for the union in Cape Town and hopefully afterwards at the Boks."