Former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen will make his Springbok debut against Japan at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday as Bok coach Rassie Erasmus named a largely settled match-23 for the opening match of the November Internationals.
Erasmus named 16 players in his matchday squad that featured in the team’s 29-27 victory against Argentina in their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship clash earlier this month, which saw them clinch the title for the second year in a row.
Three players will make a welcome return to the squad having last featured earlier in the season, while two others, who have not been involved so far in 2025, are back in the green and gold.
Kurt-Lee Arendse (wing), Franco Mostert (utility forward), and Lood de Jager (lock) reclaim their places in the starting XV after missing the last few matches due to injuries and a family bereavement. Gerhard Steenekamp (prop) and Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) are back among the replacements after last featuring in the 2024 Castle Lager Outgoing Tour.
André Esterhuizen, who has become known as a hybrid player, has also been named on the replacements bench as a back-up loose forward, although he could be drafted into the backline if the need arises.
Ox Nche, Porthen – who will become the youngest prop to make his Test debut for the Springboks in the professional era – and Malcolm Marx will form a quality front row, while RG Snyman and De Jager will join forces in the engine room, and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi will form a loose trio with Mostert and Jasper Wiese, completing a powerful pack for the match.
In the backline, Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu will dictate play at halfback, with the exciting Arendse and Ethan Hooker on the wings, with Cheslin Kolbe moving from his regular wing position to fullback for the clash.
The experienced Japan-based centre pairing of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel will partner up in the midfield.
On the replacements bench, Grobbelaar will unite with Steenekamp and Wilco Louw in the back-up front row, with Ruan Nortje providing lock cover, Esterhuizen covering flanker, and Kwagga Smith further loose forward cover. The two backs on the bench are playmakers Grant Williams and Manie Libbok, who will also play a crucial role in providing a notable impact off the bench.
The match kicks off at 18:10 (SA time) and will be broadcast live and exclusively on SuperSport.
Springbok team to face Japan in London:
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)
