Springbok prop Zachary Porthen is set to face his toughest international test yet against England on Saturday in Johannesburg.
Springbok Zachary Porthen will arguably face the toughest match of his young rugby career on Saturday if he comes off the bench against England in the opening Nations Championship Test at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The 22-year-old versatile prop will provide tighthead cover for the world champions as they kick off the inaugural tournament against the English, a side they last faced in 2018 on home soil when the front rower was still at school.
Porthen made his debut against Japan last year at just 21 and quickly grabbed the headlines when he became a swinging prop against Wales on the Year-end Tour. With the Boks short on front-row stocks on the loosehead back then, the youngster did not hesitate to put his hand up to play as backup No 1, a position in which he had not featured at senior level.
That willingness to do whatever was required for the Springboks when they needed him is exactly the type of player head coach Rassie Erasmus wants in his system. This Saturday, he will provide cover for tighthead Thomas du Toit, who coincidentally is the perfect example of a Bok swinging prop to learn from.
