Porthen surprise as Rassie makes some big calls

SA under-20 captain Zachary Porthen received a surprise call-up to the Springbok squad for the five match Castle Lager Outgoing Tour, signalling that coach Rassie Erasmus sees him as a future key figure in the Bok squad.

Porthen, who led the SA under-20 team last season, and is currently playing for the DHL Stormers, isn’t likely to be a major part of the team’s plans, but will gain a lot from learning in the Bok environment on such a long tour.

The Boks will face Japan in the first of five tests on consecutive Saturdays at Wembley Stadium in London on 1 November, before lining up against France at Stade de France in Paris (8 November), Italy at the Allianz Stadium, Turin (15 November), Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin (22 November), and Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (29 November).

Porthen, who made his DHL Stormers’ Vodacom United Rugby Championship debut in May and is currently on tour with the team in Italy, is the only uncapped player in the 36-man squad, who will depart for London in different groups from their respective franchises and clubs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

There are also returns for Johan Grobbelaar, who missed out on the tests this year when Scarlets hooker Marnus van der Merwe was selected. Grobbelaar is back in contention as one of only two hookers selected, with Jan-Hendrik Wessels covering as a swinger in both prop and hooker.

Gerhard Steenekamp returns from injury and takes his spot among the front row, and with Grobbelaar back Erasmus could reunite the much-vaunted Bulls front row somewhere on this tour.

But it also means there is no place for World Cup winners Bongi Mbonambi and Vincent Koch. Mbonambi missed the New Zealand leg of the Rugby Championship because of personal reasons but returned to the squad for the Argentina games. However, with Malcolm Marx starting, the Boks obviously feel his back up needs to be a player that will have one eye on the future.

Koch hasn’t played for the Boks all season and is seen as slowly being phased out of the system, along with Faf de Klerk and Makazole Mapimpi, both of whom failed to be selected as well.

Willie le Roux hasn’t been selected either, although this wasn’t unexpected, and Le Roux is likely to be on standby if needed, but will concentrate more on his role at the Bulls in the near future.

But that means that Damian Willemse - in the absence of the injured Aphelele Fassi - is the only 15 in the group right now, with Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu his likely back-up.

There are several other players - including wingers Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse, who is back after injury, who could slot in at 15 if needed.

Among the forwards, Ben-Jason Dixon and Jean Kleyn - both injured and who missed the Rugby Championship - return to the side while the backline picks are very much in line with selections all season.

Interestingly enough Juarno Augustus has been put on the standby list in case of injury with Lukhanyo Am’s name also standing out in his absence. Bulls winger Sebastian de Klerk’s consistent performances mean he will be on standby as well and could be called up in case of an injury.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi is in line to become only the ninth South African test centurion on the tour after racking up his 98th test cap in the team’s 29-27 victory against Argentina in their final Castle Lager Rugby Championship match at the Allianz Stadium, Twickenham, earlier this month, which saw the Boks clinch the southern hemisphere title for the second time in a row.

Among the injured players not considered for selection are Cameron Hanekom, Elrigh Louw, Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Jean-Luc du Preez, and Aphelele Fassi.

“We are excited about the makeup of this squad,” said Erasmus. “Most of the players in the group have been with us throughout the season, while others are back from injury or have done the job for us before in the last few years.

“It’s also great to see a young player like Zachary, who has emerged through our junior structures, come through the ranks into the senior set-up, and we are excited to see what he can do at this level.”

Erasmus added: “With five tough matches lined up, we always planned to select a manageable squad, and we have a solid bunch of players on standby, some of whom have been with us during stages this season, and uncapped players such as Sebastian and Juarno, who have continued to impress us with their performances.

“With Neethling and Salmaan currently in the process of returning from injury, it’s important for us that they get more game time for their Vodacom URC franchises, which was the main reason for excluding them from the 36-man squad.

“Obviously, players not included on the standby list could also be called up should the need arise.”

Looking ahead at the tour, Erasmus admitted that while it would be challenging given the quality of the opposition they will be facing, the team was eager to get back on the field.

“It’s a longer tour than usual and we are facing top-class opposition, but we are looking forward to it,” said Erasmus.

“Ireland and France are currently ranked third and fourth in the world, while Italy, Wales, and Japan are in 10th, 12th and 13th place, and we’ve seen in the last few years that you cannot write off any team.

“Ireland and France are always tough opposition, and they both won four out of their five Six Nations matches, with France emerging as the eventual champions, and we know how challenging it is to beat them both at home.

“Japan have beaten us before, Italy put up a good fight against us earlier this year in Pretoria, and Wales beat Japan, proving that they are again on an upward trajectory, so it’s going to be a challenging tour.

“We have delivered a few good performances but also a few disappointing ones this season, so this will be a good opportunity to test ourselves and see if we can build consistency from week to week. That said, it is going to take a massive effort, and we are excited about the tour.”

Springbok squad for Castle Lager Outgoing Tour:

Props:

Thomas du Toit

Wilco Louw

Ox Nche

Zachary Porthen

Gerhard Steenekamp

Boan Venter

Hookers:

Johan Grobbelaar

Malcolm Marx

Jan-Hendrik Wessels

Locks:

Lood de Jager

Eben Etzebeth

Jean Kleyn

Franco Mostert

Ruan Nortje

RG Snyman

Loose forwards

Ben-Jason Dixon

Pieter-Steph du Toit

Siya Kolisi

Kwagga Smith

Marco van Staden

Jasper Wiese

Scrumhalves

Cobus Reinach

Morne van den Berg

Grant Williams

Flyhalves:

Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu

Manie Libbok

Handre Pollard

Midfielders:

Damian de Allende

Andre Esterhuizen

Jesse Kriel

Wings

Cheslin Kolbe

Kurt-Lee Arendse

Ethan Hooker

Canan Moodie

Edwill van der Merwe

Players on standby:

Forwards:

Juarno Augustus

Neethling Fouche

Bongi Mbonambi

Salmaan Moerat

Asenathi Ntlabakanye

Evan Roos

Vincent Tshituka

Backs:

Lukhanyo Am

Sebastian De Klerk

Makazole Mapimpi

Players in previous squads but missing

Jean-Luc Du Preez (injured)

Vincent Koch

Bongi Mbonambi (Standby)

Marnus van der Merwe

Aphelele Fassi (injured)

Willie le Roux

Makazole Mapimpi (standby)

Lukhanyo Am (Standby)