Zachary Porthen is set to become the youngest prop to debut for the Springboks in the professional era after being named in the side to face Japan.
The tighthead has impressed for the Stormers this season and has duly been rewarded with his first cap for South Africa this weekend.
Porthen, at 21 years, six months and 28 days, will become the youngest prop debutant since Ollie le Roux in 1994, who was 21 years and 25 days.
He joins two experienced players in the front-row with Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx packing down alongside him at Wembley Stadium.
Marx is one of seven Japan-based players in the starting XV with Erasmus using this clash to give them some game time ahead of sterner challenges for the Springboks in the November series.
Cheslin Kolbe, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Jasper Wiese, Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager are the other individuals in the starting line-up who currently ply their trade in Asia, while two more – Kwagga Smith and Manie Libbok – are on the bench, but there is no place for Pieter-Steph du Toit.
‘Sink or swim’
“Six (Editor’s note: seven) players in the group are currently plying their trade in Japan, and we believe their experience of playing in that league and either with or against some of their players will be a bonus for us, but I’m sure Japan will also tap into their knowledge of those players as they prepare for the match,” Erasmus said.
“It is also good to have a few players back in the mix after missing a few games due to various reasons, and one can sense their excitement to be back in the squad, so we felt this is the best team we could field against a quality Japan outfit, who will want to make a strong point against us.”
On Porthen, Erasmus said: “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.
“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.”
Kolbe has been shifted to full-back and starts alongside Ethan Hooker and Kurt-Lee Arendse in the back three, while Erasmus has reverted to his trusty centre pairing of Kriel and De Allende.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and Cobus Reinach continue at half-back with Wiese, Mostert and captain Siya Kolisi the loose trio and De Jager and RG Snyman are in the engine room.
Finally, with Andre Esterhuizen in the 20 jersey, it suggests that the usual centre is primarily covering the back-row. If that is the case, Erasmus has reverted to a 6-2 split on the bench for the first time since the first Test of the year against Italy.
“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,” the Boks head coach said.
“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.
“They also lost by only four points against Australia last weekend, which is a testament to the improvement they have been making, so we need to be sharp on attack and defence if we want to get the result.”
Springboks 23 to take on Japan
Springboks: 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 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok
Date: Saturday, November 1
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16:10 GMT (18:10 SAST)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
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