Prop forward Porthen to make South Africa debut against Japan / Photo: Michael Bradley - AFP
Prop forward Porthen to make South Africa debut against Japan
Zachary Porthen will make his South Africa debut against Japan at Wembley on Saturday after being named in the starting side by coach Rassie Erasmus.
The 21-year-old tighthead prop, a former Junior Springbok captain, has been called into the side after impressing in a handful of games for the Cape Town-based Stormers in the United Rugby Championship.
He will be surrounded by experienced players for world champions South Africa's opening Autumn Nations Series international, packing down alongside hooker with Malcolm Marx and fellow prop Ox Nche.
Erasmus has retained 16 of the 23 involved in the Springboks' 29-27 win over Argentina at Twickenham earlier in October that secured a second straight Rugby Championship title.
World Cup winners Kurt-Lee Arendse, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager return after missing the final rounds of the Rugby Championship.
Arendse is on the wing, with Mostert in a back row also featuring South Africa captain Siya Kolisi and Jasper Wiese. De Jager starts at lock alongside RG Snyman.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, one of the breakout stars of the Rugby Championship, remains at fly-half, with Cobus Reinach at scrum-half.
- Kolbe switch -
Cheslin Kolbe has been switched to full-back from his usual wing position, with Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel forming a midfield combination that indicates the Springboks will look to play a running game against Japan.
Erasmus, announcing his team Tuesday, said of Porthen: "He proved at 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."
"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."
Japan upset the Springboks 34-32 in what has become known as the 'Miracle of Brighton' during the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England and four years later trailed by only two points at half time in Tokyo before losing 26-3.
"They beat us in 2015, and they showed what a quality outfit they are in the first half of our 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final against them, so we are expecting them to come out guns blazing," said Erasmus.
Japan arrive in London following an agonising 19-15 loss to coach Eddie Jones's native Australia in Tokyo last weekend.
Although back-to-back world champions South Africa, whose squad features several players at Japanese clubs, will be huge favourites to win at Wembley, the home of the England football team, Erasmus is taking nothing for granted.
"They are a quality team, and they have a top coach in Eddie Jones, so we have no doubt they’ll throw everything at us," he said.
After the Japan match, record four-time world champions South Africa face France in Paris, Italy in Turin, Ireland in Dublin and Wales in Cardiff on successive Saturdays.
South Africa (15-1)
Cheslin Kolbe; Ethan Hooker, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Kurt-Lee Arendse; Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Cobus Reinach; Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert, Siya Kolisi (capt); Lood de Jager, RG Snyman; Zachary Porthen, Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche
Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp, Wilco Louw, Ruan Nortje, Andre Esterhuizen, Kwagga Smith, Grant Williams, Manie Libbok
Coach: Rassie Erasmus (RSA)
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