Team news: Kurt-Lee Arendse among returning Boks as young prop earns debut

Erasmus has kept changes to a minimum for the opening match of the November tour, largely retaining the players who performed well in the recent Rugby Championship.

It's not all familiar faces, however - former Junior Springbok captain Zachary Porthen is set to make his Springbok debut after being named to start at tighthead, while three players make a welcome return to the team having last featured earlier in the season.

Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, utility forward Franco Mostert and lock Lood de Jager reclaim their places in the starting XV after missing the last few matches due to injury and personal reasons. Prop Gerhard Steenekamp and hooker Johan Grobbelaar are also back among the replacements and are making their first appearances of the season.

As many as 16 players in Saturday's matchday squad also featured in the teamâ™s 29-27 victory against Argentina in their final match of the Rugby Championship earlier this month, however, including returning half-back duo Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.

Porthen will become the youngest prop to make his Test debut for the Springboks in the professional era, joining Malcolm Marx and Ox Nche in a quality front row, while RG Snyman and De Jager will join forces in the second row, and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi accompanies Mostert and Jasper Wiese in the loose trio.

In the backline, Reinach and 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, Andre Esterhuizen covering flanker, and Kwagga Smith further loose forward cover. The two backs on the bench are playmakers Grant Williams and Manie Libbok.

"It is good to have a few players back in the mix after missing a few games due to various reasons, and one can sense their excitement to be back in the squad, so we felt this is the best team we could field against a quality Japan outfit, who will want to make a strong point against us," said head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Of Porthen being handed his debut, Erasmus said: "He proved at Vodacom 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.

"Obviously, he has a lot to learn this week, but we have experienced players in the squad who have been helping and guiding him, and we believe this is the right match to give him an opportunity to prove what he can do.

"At this level, you have to sink or swim, so although it will be a challenging week for him to learn our structures, it will also be a very exciting week for him."

Springboks - 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Ethan Hooker, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jasper Wiese, 7 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 Lood de Jager, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Ox Nche.

Replacements: 16 Johan Grobbelaar, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Andre Esterhuizen, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Manie Libbok.

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