Augustus, Van der Merwe made their presence felt as Bok training camp starts

STORMERS star Evan Roos has been the subject of headlines since the squad for the latest Springbok alignment camp was announced, but he is not the only one to have had a sinking feeling.

- MIKE GREENAWAY

The second alignment camp of the year is currently underway in Cape Town, and the reduction of players from 83 in March to 54 is significant because the first Springbok game against the Barbarians on June 28 - is about six weeks away.

The shrinking time-frame to the first game suggests that the players not currently in Cape Town -either in person or online from around the world - have moved to Rassie Erasmus' outer radar, because the camp is about finalising plans for an imminent international season that stretches from late June to late November, and includes 13 Test matches.

While there was the eyebrow-raising inclusion of Ikeys wing/fullback Ntokozo Makhaza, it is the players left out that have generated much interest.

The omission of Roos is a mystery only Erasmus can explain, and he will be asked about it at his first press conference of the year.

Roos has refined his game for the Stormers this year.

The 25-year-old plays less like a reckless individual and more like a team player, while curbing his hot-headedness, all qualities that should impress the Springbok coach - yet he has been left out.

The man who appears to have taken his place in the No 8 rankings is Juarno Augustus, who will feature for the Northampton Saints in Saturday's Champions Cup final against Bordeaux in Cardiff.

Augustus left Cape Town for Northampton five years ago as a rough and tough 22-year-old nicknamed “Trokkie”.