From Wynberg to Wembley: Zachary Porthen ready to step up for the Springboks

A silent giant who just wants to get on with the work on the rugby field — that’s exactly how youngster Zachary Porthen will approach his Springbok debut on Saturday at Wembley Stadium against Japan.

The former Junior Bok and Wynberg Boys’ High captain will become the youngest prop to debut for South Africa in the modern era at just 21 years old. However, his rugby journey has shaped him to handle the pressure that comes with his first international appearance.

Two of his former coaches at Wynberg, Ashley Wells and Justin van Winkel, have full faith in the mobile tighthead prop to embrace the occasion and lean on the experience around him come kick-off in London (6.10pm).

Porthen, originally from Strandfontein before moving to Plumstead, is a proud product of Wynberg Boys’ Junior and High Schools and will become their second matriculant Springbok since readmission. He follows in the footsteps of former Stormers and Sharks forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe, who played for the national team in 2018.

Originally a loose forward — which perhaps explains his deceptive speed and quick feet — Porthen was always destined for rugby’s big stage. While his rapid rise has surprised some, his coaches always believed he would make it.

Wells, a former Western Province player, wants to see the 125kg “Fridge”, as Porthen is affectionately known, enjoy the moment and not put too much pressure on himself. He believes that if the youngster focuses on his basics and trusts his natural ability, everyone will be happy with his performance.

“If you take away his rugby pedigree, there are a couple of things that stand out about Zach — he’s a natural-born leader, a good person, and people gravitate towards him,” Wells said.

“When I played with Cheslin Kolbe many years ago, (coach) John Dobson used to say that if he could buy shares in Cheslin, he’d be a rich man. I’ve always said the same about Zach. If I could buy shares in him, I would’ve been rich.

“He’s been earmarked for big things since he was young, but he’s never made that a thing — that’s just who he is. He’s a silent giant who gets on with the work. Zach’s ability is almost freak-like; people with his build shouldn’t be that athletic.”

Porthen isn’t just known for his power in the scrums, but also for his exceptional footwork, handling skills under pressure, and deceptively quick turn of pace. Those traits could shine through on Saturday evening, especially with a Bok game plan that might suit his soft skills — within reason. Some of those abilities didn’t come solely from rugby. Porthen was a talented water polo player for Wynberg and an outstanding shot-put athlete, both of which added to his all-round athleticism.

Van Winkel, the Wynberg Boys’ High first-team coach, explained that Porthen only transitioned from the loose trio to tighthead prop when he reached high school. He credits the support of his parents along with his junior coach Allen Gerber, for setting him on the right path.

“He was a big boy back then and played loose forward under many coaches. If you ask Zach about Mr. Gerber, he’ll speak incredibly fondly of him,” Van Winkel said.

“You don’t often see big boys from primary school with such soft skills — they usually just run people over. But from early on, they worked on his ability to catch, pass, and see space. When he moved to high school, he just cracked on after being shifted to prop — and he never looked back.”

Despite Covid robbing him of his Under-15 and Under-16 seasons, Porthen broke into the Wynberg First XV in Grade 11, a testament to his talent and determination.

“It didn’t take us long to figure out Zach was special,” Van Winkel added.

“He was 1.89m and 125kg but could run like a loose forward — brave, skillful, and with the full package. Even back then, he didn’t realise how good he was, and neither did his parents. He was just a humble kid getting on with it. By the time he left, we knew he’d operate at a high level — we had no doubt he’d go pro.

“Did we expect him to become a Springbok at 21 years and seven months? Jeepers, we dreamed about that. It’s come early, but he’s certainly ready for it.”