Zac Porthen

The only uncapped player in the squad

I have mentioned him a few times - he is a good prospect

21 and 125kg tighthead prop who captained the Baby Boks last year

His Bok squad selection is clearly based on potential and not performances as he has only had a handful of games off the bench and a start this past weekend thanks to all the prop injuries the Stormers have had

He is very good in general play, gets around the park. He has looked solid enough in the scrums. Scrumming is where he will be judged so time will tell. At 21 he is still a baby, but at 125kgs he has the foundation to build on.

Its a good call by Rassie given our tighthead replacements for Malherbe and Koch in Wilco and Thomas are already 31 and 30.

Zac at 21 makes perfect sense for the long term future

So does Pratt a ftr he ets out of school next year/.

Pratt needs to first prove himself at Baby Bok level then senior level - but he has huge potential

Will be good if he does make it as Ox, Steenkamp and Boan Venter are 30 or getting close

Wessels is our hybrid 1/2

Mchunu needs to show more dominance in the scrums - these was more evidence of this pre his injury. I think he has moved to the Stormers. Having Wilco at 3 will help his cause.

I like the look of 23 year old loosehead Vernon Matongo at the Stormers

I see Thomas du Toit is moving back to the Sharks, turning down big money to be back home with his extended family

“So does Pratt a ftr he ets out of school next year”

classic Mike

@David

Porthen is solid. Also very mobile for a prob. Almost like an extra loosie!

I want to see him scrum against the Bulls and Sharks before I make any scrummaging judgement calls.

Well, my opinion Porthen is a Skin colour call.

When he was scrumming against the French Loosehead in the U20 World Championship, he was under immense pressure.

Maybe that is to little exposure to make a call, but we will see when he comes up against a OX or a Cyril Baille the French Loosehead.

Well in his start last weekend the Stormers scrum was dominant and Zac was pretty solid, so it’s a good start

"Well, my opinion Porthen is a Skin colour call."

followed by "Maybe that is to little exposure to make a call"

Stupid comment followed up with another one to try and protect yourself incase he rocks in the Bok jersey.

MPower, are you Afrikaans?

With players like Carlu Sadie, Francois Klopper, Hanro Jacobs, and Corne Weilbach — who is also a Baby Bok — available and, in my opinion, much stronger scrummagers, it seems likely that Porthen’s selection is influenced by transformation policy rather than purely performance.

It’s not outrageous to suggest that, given how totally Fucking unbalanced SA Rugby’s approach to transformation often is, especially because the ANC is involved.

And I don’t understand what’s so hard to grasp about this: I simply need to see him scrum more than once…..

That single U20 World Championship appearance isn’t enough to make a fair assessment. So I stand by both my comments.

Do you get me now Chip Chip??

And yes I am Afrikaans.

What about that huge standout teen black loose forward, name escapes me, but he had a huge season last year?

Remember when they picked Sampie Swart from the Varsity cup. What happened to him?

I wouldn't read to much into it, but yes, we need to get some props battle hardened over the next two to three years and we need to start now

Bob you are talking about Batho from my old school who is on the Sharks bench theses days

rugby05 August 2025 20:00

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In a Springbok training session filled with heavy hitters and hardened veterans, one moment stood out — a 20-year-old Batho Hlekani, roughed up on the ball, refusing to back down. It wasn’t just a flash of defiance. It was a statement.

Hlekani hails from Zwide, the same township that produced Siya Kolisi, and his journey mirrors that same grit and rise against the odds. Starting out at Ndzondelelo High School, he later moved to Graeme College, where his rugby talents truly began to shine. By 2023, he was dominating Craven Week, earning player of the week honours and a call-up to the SA Schools and SA Under-18 teams.

Now signed with the Lions and invited to train with the Springboks, Hlekani is no longer just a prospect — he’s a presence.

“Batho is a big, big man,” said Bulls head coach Johan Ackermann, who worked with him during the Junior Boks’ Under-20 campaign. “He’s strong, physical, and evolving fast. We’ve got him jumping in line-outs now — he’s becoming a complete player.”

There’s still polish to be added, especially in the tackle fight, but the raw power and hunger are unmistakable. In the Bok camp, he’s not just surviving — he’s thriving.

From township fields to the national stage, Batho Hlekani is proving he belongs. And the big men? They’re starting to take notice.

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Yep that’s the boy - from my school

@david thats interesting.

Batho Hlekani doesn't look like your typical art school student.

Shows you, poefs come in all different shapes and sizes these days.

The irony Chip chip - I used to love drawing and was good at it

I should have taken art as a subject at school, instead I went for an academic subject - accounting and fucking hated it

you should swap your law degree as a court artist, get to watch all the fun without having to do the prep work

Fuck no King that would be Deja vu - I’m done for good with anything relating to legal even free advice to friends:)

Chip Chip, just a quick question — what exactly was the point of calling my comments “stupid” and then asking if I’m Afrikaans?

What were you implying there?

You threw shade, and now you’ve gone silent. So what’s up — cat got your tongue?

If you’ve got something to say, then say it……Chip Chip.