Springbok tighthead prop Zachary Porthen has sent a clear warning to the Wallabies: the heavily rotated Springbok squad is absolutely "hungry" to unleash their pent-up energy at Optus Stadium this Sunday.
Following Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s bold decision to make 13 changes to the starting lineup, critics have questioned whether a heavily altered South African team might suffer a competitive letdown. The Test comes immediately after a gruelling four-Test series against the All Blacks.
Furthermore, several of the incoming players have spent the last fortnight on the sidelines adjusting to the Australian climate without any game time.
However, speaking from the team camp on Tuesday, the 22-year-old former Junior Springboks captain firmly dismissed any suggestions of a drop-off in intensity or motivation.
"First things first, this is Test rugby, and everyone who goes out on the field knows that it means a lot to each player," Porthen told reporters. "It means a lot for the country. So that in itself is enough to get you up for any game.
“A lot of the boys here, especially this week, since there have been so many changes in the lineup, are actually hungrier than you think. Although, yes, we’ve gotten some time off, the boys are hungry to get back on the field to prove themselves and to show what this means to them.”
Sunday's clash in Perth represents a massive milestone for Porthen, who is set to earn his eighth Test cap and make just his third international start.
He will anchor a completely overhauled, youthful front row alongside loosehead Jan-Hendrik Wessels and hooker Johan Grobbelaar. With fewer than 10 caps to his name, Porthen acknowledges the immense responsibility of maintaining the standards set by the world champions' established "Bomb Squad" veterans.
Rather than viewing the time away from match action as a disadvantage, Porthen believes the period of rest and acclimation has given the fringe players a tactical and physical edge. They are ready to take the game to the seventh-ranked Wallabies.
With Erasmus using the one-off Test to build vital squad depth, the pressure is on the next generation of squad members to deliver a statement performance. If Porthen’s words are anything to go by, the Wallabies should prepare themselves for a ferocious, high-stakes battle against a group of players desperate to cement their place in the green and gold.