Boks hand debut to 21-year-old prop as three World Cup winners make returns

The Stormers’ 21-year-old tighthead prop Zachary Porthen will make his debut on Saturday when the Springboks take on Japan at Wembley Stadium.

Porthen will join what is otherwise a settled Springboks side for the clash against Eddie Jones’ side, with Rassie Erasmus selecting 16 players from the Rugby Championship-sealing victory over Argentina.

The side have received a further boost, with World Cup winners Kurt-Lee Arendse, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager returning after missing the final rounds of the Championship.

De Jager will start in the second-row with Mostert in the back-row, while Arendse will take his place on the wing.

Wilco Louw will provide back-up for Porthen from the bench.

Fixture

Internationals

South Africa

61 - 7

Full-time

Japan

All Stats and Data

“He proved at Vodacom United Rugby Championship level and with the Junior Springboks what he can do, and we are looking forward to seeing what he can offer in his first Test match,” Erasmus said of Porthen.

“Obviously, he has a lot to learn this week, but we have experienced players in the squad who have been helping and guiding him, and we believe this is the right match to give him an opportunity to prove what he can do.

“At this level, you have to sink or swim, so although it will be a challenging week for him to learn our structures, it will also be a very exciting week for him.”

Springbok XV
15 Cheslin Kolbe (Tokyo Sungoliath) – 46 caps, 126 points (21t, 3c, 5p)
14 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 5 caps, 0 points
13 Jesse Kriel (Canon Eagles) – 84 caps, 95 points (19t)
12 Damian de Allende (Wild Knights) – 93 caps, 55 points (11t)
11 Kurt-Lee Arendse (Vodacom Bulls) – 27 caps, 105 points (21t)
10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers) – 15 caps, 104 points (3t, 28c, 11p)
9 Cobus Reinach (DHL Stormers) – 46 caps, 85 pts (17t)
8 Jasper Wiese (Urayasu D-Rocks) – 39 caps, 10 points (2t)
7 Franco Mostert (Honda Heat) – 81 caps, 20 points (4t)
6 Siya Kolisi (captain, Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 98 caps, 65 points (13t)
5 Lood de Jager (Wild Knights) – 71 caps, 25 points (5t)
4 RG Snyman (Leinster) – 46 caps, 15 points (3t)
3 Zachary Porthen (DHL Stormers) – uncapped
2 Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears) – 84 caps, 135 pts (27t)
1 Ox Nche (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 46 caps, 0 pts

Replacements
16 Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls) – 3 caps, 0 points
17 Gerhard Steenekamp (Vodacom Bulls) – 11 caps, 5 points (1t)
18 Wilco Louw (Vodacom Bulls) – 24 caps, 0 pts
19 Ruan Nortje (Vodacom Bulls) – 13 caps, 0 pts
20 Andre Esterhuizen (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 24 caps, 10 pts (2t)
21 Kwagga Smith (Shizuoka Blue Revs) – 59 caps, 55 points (11t)
22 Grant Williams (Hollywoodbets Sharks) – 24 caps, 25 pts (5t)
23 Manie Libbok (Kintetsu Liners) – 24 caps, 133 pts (2t, 42c, 13p)