GIFT FROM ABOVE

NEWLY-CAPPED Springbok loose-head prop Zachary Porthen never thought 2025 would be the year where the fast-forward button was going to be pressed on his professional rugby career.

About seven months ago, the 21-year-old former captain of the South African Under-20 team, the Junior Springboks, was still celebrating winning the Varsity Cup title with his teammates at the University of Cape Town after klapping Maties 44-21 at the Danie Craven Stadium.

Fast-forward to September and October and Porthen found himself playing in four of the Stormers' five United Rugby Championship games, either off the bench or starting.

But never did he know that Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus would also come and druk op die vinnige knoppie as the Cape Flats-born front rower made history by becoming the youngest prop to debut for the Boks in last week's 61-7 win against Japan at Wembley.

And after getting that surprise first Bok cap, Porthen, wysed: “Honestly, unreal... I think the way I’ll put it is, like a dream come true… to be on the same field as all those guys, I could only dream of it, and now that it is actually happening is just crazy.”

Of never expecting that this would be the year he would become a Bok, he explained: “I will be honest with you, no. I had a different plan for myself. To become more established at the Stormers and, then this would come maybe over the course of four or five years, but God had a different plan and now we are here.”

With the Boks facing some problems in the front row after Ox Nche had to pull out of their November tour to Europe due to a leg injury, the door has been creaked open for Porthen to possibly earn more caps with the Boks this month.

Maar hy is nie haastig nie, and said: “I am just planning to take it one step at a time, you know, one day at a time, one training session at a time...

“This is my biggest highlight, this is what I have wanted and all praise to God. I am grateful to be here and I hope I can stay here – that’s the next step.”