Zachary Porthen to make Springbok debut against Japan at Wembley

Former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen will make his Test debut when the Springboks face Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday. Head coach Rassie Erasmus has named a largely settled match-day squad for the opening fixture of the November Internationals.

Erasmus has retained 16 players from the side that edged Argentina 29-27 earlier this month to clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles, signalling continuity as the Boks look to maintain their rhythm heading into the northern hemisphere tour.

There are, however, a few welcome returns. Kurt-Lee Arendse, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are all back in the starting XV after missing recent matches through injury and personal circumstances, while Gerhard Steenekamp and Johan Grobbelaar return among the replacements after last featuring on the 2024 Outgoing Tour.

In a notable tweak, André Esterhuizen has been listed on the bench as a hybrid option – capable of covering both the backline and loose forward roles – providing Erasmus with valuable flexibility.

Up front, Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and debutant Porthen will form a powerful front row. At 21, Porthen becomes the youngest prop to debut for South Africa in the professional era. Behind them, RG Snyman and De Jager combine in the second row, while captain Siya Kolisi lines up alongside Mostert and Jasper Wiese in a formidable loose trio.

On 21-year-old Porthen’s elevation, Erasmus said the young prop’s maturity and physicality made a strong impression.

“He’s proven himself in the Vodacom URC and at Junior Springbok level,” said Erasmus. “This is a big step, but he’s got experienced heads around him. It’s a sink-or-swim environment, but we believe this is the right game to give him his shot.”

Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will direct play at half-back, while Arendse and Ethan Hooker occupy the wings. Cheslin Kolbe shifts from wing to full-back for this encounter, adding another layer of creativity to a backline anchored by the seasoned midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel, both of whom ply their trade in Japan.

On the bench, Grobbelaar, Steenekamp and Wilco Louw provide front-row reinforcement, with Ruan Nortje covering lock and Esterhuizen offering versatility in the loose. Kwagga Smith adds further mobility off the bench, while Grant Williams and Manie Libbok will inject energy and flair late in the game.

Erasmus said the familiarity of his Japan-based players with local conditions and opponents would be an advantage.

“Six players in this squad currently play in Japan, and their insight into local playing styles and conditions is valuable,” he said. “Of course, Japan will also know a fair bit about them, but that’s part of the chess match at this level.”

He added that the return of key players had lifted the mood in camp: “It’s fantastic to have guys like Lood, Franco and Kurt-Lee back. You can sense their excitement. This is a quality Japan side, so we felt this was the best possible combination for the challenge.”

Erasmus expects a stern examination from Eddie Jones’s Japan, who continue to improve under the Australian coach.

“They’re a quality outfit,” he said. “They beat us in 2015 and really tested us in the 2019 World Cup quarter-final. They pushed Australia close last weekend, which shows how competitive they’ve become. We’ll have to be sharp in every department.”

The Bok coach stressed the importance of starting the tour strongly. “Very little separates the top teams in world rugby. If you’re not mentally and physically switched on, you can come unstuck. This is about setting the tone for the rest of our campaign.”

The Test kicks off at 6.10pm SA time.

Springbok team to face Japan at Wembley Stadium:

15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach; 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 André Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.