Taking a closer look at the Springbok side to face Japan at Wembley

While major opponents like France and Ireland lie in wait, the first order of business will be taking on a confident Eddie Jones-coached Japan side at a Wembley Stadium sure to be packed to the rafters with enthusiastic South African expats.

The Brave Blossoms are coming off a narrow defeat to the Wallabies in Tokyo, a result that has them believing another "miracle" could be on the cards, similar to the one they pulled off in Brighton 10 years ago at the 2015 World Cup when they stunned the Boks 34-32 in one of the most famous upsets in rugby history.

There are a couple of reasons why a repeat of that shock result 10 years ago is unlikely, however.

Rassie has rolled out the heavy artillery

Barring a few changes here and there, Erasmus has decided to keep changes to a minimum for the opening match of the November tour, largely sticking to the same core group of players who performed so well in the recent Rugby Championship.

While this can be read as a show of respect for the current Japan team, the more telling takeaway is that Erasmus isn't going to be doing much tinkering on this tour and wants his best lineup firing as soon as possible.

To that end, he has brought back some of his most experienced and reliable performers, while also continuing to reward the new players and combinations that emerged during their victorious Rugby Championship campaign.

It's a significant nod to cohesion and continuity from a coach often celebrated for his willingness to experiment - and a clear signal that stability is currently the priority - with massive games against the likes of France and Ireland lying in wait.

Cobus and Sacha are back together again

Nowhere is this mindset more evident than with the re-selection of halfback pairing Cobus Reinach and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, a telling show of continuity at two positions where Erasmus has tended to regularly chop and change based on the opponents in front of him.

Seeing this duo get another run at 9 and 10 seems to strongly suggest they will be asked to do the same for the biggest Tests of the tour against France and Ireland.

At 35, Reinach may not represent the future of the Springboks at scrumhalf, but he's firmly established himself as Rassie's first choice this season, and his partnership with the exciting young flyhalf Feinberg-Mngomezulu has already produced plenty of fireworks.

The veteran scrumhalf still plays with the kind of speed and intent needed from an international No 9, and his added experience has proven to be an excellent foil for Sacha's unpredictable brilliance.

Meanwhile, with Manie Libbok and Grant Williams lying in wait on the bench, the Boks have an embarrassment of playmaking riches to turn to in the second half, should they feel the need.

Some familiar faces make a welcome return

Where Rassie has made changes to the team from the one that last did battle in the Rugby Championship, it's been mostly injury-related. Either an injury has forced his hand, or some key players have returned from injury or absence and are being reintegrated into the squad.

That's certainly the case with winger Kurt-Lee Arendse and forward duo Franco Mostert and Lood de Jager, all three of whom are back in the picture for the Boks after missing the last few matches.

Their inclusion further strengthens the team and allows the Bok pack to look as formidable as ever despite missing some big names like Eben Etzebeth and Pieter-Steph du Toit from the matchday squad.

Meanwhile, the return of the Boks' most deadly winger to the starting line-up has come at just the right time, allowing Cheslin Kolbe to fill in at fullback amid injuries to both Aphelele Fassi and Damian Willemse.

Erasmus has leveraged the Boks' incredible depth at wing to move Kolbe to 15 and make room for Arendse and exciting newcomer Ethan Hooker in a back-three that has lost none of its potency.

And to think that players like Edwill van der Merwe and Sebastian de Klerk are still waiting in (on) the wings!

A massive Test for Zachary Porthen

It hasn't all been smooth sailing for Erasmus in the build-up to this Test, however. The Boks' most significant setback occurred when Jan-Hendrik Wessels, whose versatility was set to play a big role for the Boks up front, was ruled out through a nine-week suspension for allegedly getting a little bit handsy with an opposing player in the ruck.

Much has been made of the evidence on which Wessels was convicted - or lack thereof - but the reality is that he will not be available for the Boks, and his absence - along with that of Thomas du Toit - has seen Erasmus turn to 21-year-old former Junior Bok star Zachary Porthen, who is set to become the youngest prop ever to debut for South Africa when he takes to the field at Wembley on Saturday.

Porthen's selection isn't quite as surprising as you might think, however, as he has been on the Bok radar for some time. He captained SA Schools in 2022 and 2023, featured in the Junior Boks in 2024 and has been called up to the Stormers squad this season.

More importantly, he's part of SA Rugby's Elite Player Development Programme, having been earmarked for greatness since his teenage years and benefiting from world-class coaching behind the scenes.

With pedigreed players like Ox Nche and Malcolm Marx alongside to support him, and against a team not exactly known for its scrumming prowess, Erasmus has taken a calculated risk, one that could launch the next great Springbok front-row career if the young prop holds his own under the Wembley lights.

Final thoughts

Erasmus' selections for Saturday's clash at Wembley appear to strike the right balance between pragmatism and ambition. The familiar spine of the team suggests a coach more interested in fine-tuning combinations than testing them at this stage of the game, while the inclusion of a few fresh faces hints at long-term planning already in motion. It's a typically Rassie blend - part calculated strategy, part instinctive feel.

The decision to back experience where it counts - in the spine of the side - while trusting emerging players like Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Hooker and Porthen speaks to a system humming with depth and confidence.

Japan, of course, won't roll over. Under Eddie Jones, they'll bring tempo, variety, and a touch of unpredictability - and the Boks will know better than most that underestimating them is a mistake. But with the firepower Erasmus has assembled and a clear intent to hit the ground running, South Africa will start as strong favourites to open their tour on a winning note.

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.