Evan Roos relishes Bok Bomb Squad role: 'I'm struggling to sleep at night'

In Genoa

"I told him he should have kicked left into the space at kick-off," joked Evan Roos when he was asked about a conversation he had with Manie Libbok after the France Test in Marseille that was snapped on camera

The two Springbok newbies will be playing together, albeit from the bench when South Africa faces Italy at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday.

They played a key role in the Stormers' successful United Rugby Championship run, with Roos winning multiple awards for his barn-storming displays.

READ | Evan Roos raves about chat with Duane Vermeulen that means more to him than any rugby 'lesson'

He made his debut against Wales in Bloemfontein in July, but with the depth at No 8 in the form of Duane Vermeulen, Jasper Wiese, and Kwagga Smith, Roos has had to wait for his chance.

He may have kept a straight face in the press engagement on Wednesday, but there was a glint of excitement in his eyes that he wants to extend to the field on Saturday.

"I'm still excited and I'm struggling to sleep at night," Roos said.

"It's been a while since I could represent the country, so it's always such an honour to do so.

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Damian de Allende, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche

 Substitutes: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Eben Etzebeth, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Evan Roos, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Manie Libbok

"It's awesome to be part of the Bomb Squad and mine is to bring energy, presence, and play like I normally do.

"I'm not going to try something different or new and hopefully, that'll be enough."

Roos