PLUK DIÉ ROOS

JASPER Wiese’s brain-fart moment against Italy at the weekend has opened up the door for Stormers yster Evan Roos to earn a fifth Test start for the Springboks when they tackle Georgia in Nelspruit on Saturday.

Roos, played in his eighth Test for the Boks as a replacement last weekend, as the Bokke klapped Italy 45-0 in Gqeberha.

Alongside versatile loose-forwards Marco van Staden, Kwagga Smith and even Bok captain Siya Kolisi, Roos is one of four available options at No.8.

Wiese, who gave Italian prop Danilo Fischetti a kopskoot and got red-carded, is set to face a World Rugby disciplinary hearing.

He does not have the cleanest record when it comes to vuilspel. Last season, in his final game for English club Leicester Tigers, he also saw red for a dangerous cleanout at a ruck. Lifting Exeter Chiefs’ Ross Vintcent and dropping the player on his head.

The Bok incumbent at No.8 got banned for four games, and this time around a langer straf seems likely.

But as they say: “Die een se dood is die ander man se brood”, and Roos sal moet pap skep if he gets an opportunity to show coach Rassie Erasmus why Kapenaars rate him so highly as the future in the Bok No.8 trui.  

Especially after Roos was initially snubbed by Erasmus for July’s Tests and called up as injury cover for Juarno Augustus.

And of the likelihood that Roos could get a high five at eight, Bok assistant coach, Deon Davids, said on Monday: “We have versatile players in our squad and players like Evan, Siya and Marco can cover No.8, so we have a few players who can play there for us.

Zooming in on Wiese’s brain fart and the possibility of a groot straf, Davids said: “World Rugby have a disciplinary process they follow, and we respect that. As a team, we will be there for Jasper regardless of what decision is made.”

Erasmus will announce his span to tackle Georgia on Tuesday.