South Africa Debuts Porthen Against Japan
Zachary Porthen will make his South Africa debut against Japan at Wembley on Saturday.
Coach Rassie Erasmus named Porthen in the starting side, with Cheslin Kolbe switching to full-back and Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel forming a midfield combination.
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.
Erasmus noted that Porthen will face a challenging week learning the team's structures, but it will also be an exciting experience for him.
- Japan previously upset the Springboks 34-32 in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
- In 2019, Japan trailed by only two points at half-time before losing 26-3.
Author's summary: Porthen debuts for South Africa against Japan.