The South African Springboks have proven their worth dangerous depth as four debutants scored tries in the 64-21 win over Portugal in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Captain Salmaan Moerat’s team scored 10 times, compared to Portugal’s 3, thanks to debutants Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Phepsi Buthelezi, Quan Horn and Andre-Hugo Venter.

However, coach Rassie Erasmus was not happy with the poor discipline shown by his much-changed team against Portugal, after experienced midfielder André Esterhuizen was sent off in the second minute for a dangerous tackle that knocked out opponent Jose Santos.

Springboks are now down to 14 men, as André Esterhuizen’s yellow card has been changed to a red card after this tackle 👇

📺Stream #RSAvPOR live: https://t.co/0P0NNhnwKw photo.twitter.com/oqX9ZO6c2k

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 20, 2024

Winger Kurt-Lee Arendse also received a yellow card for a crocodile roll, while debutant Horn was sidelined for ten minutes for repeated offside offences.

And South Africa did not start the test match in the best possible way. Portugal played an attacking game and had to test their defence early on. Thanks to a try from Jose Paiva dos Santos, the visitors took a 7-0 lead after 10 minutes.

However, the Boks hit back immediately, with Wessels becoming the first Bok debutant to score in the 12th minute, before taking the lead when fellow debutant Buthelezi scored in the 17th minute.

The world champions started to run away with Arendse, Stormers flanking Ben-Jason Dixon and centre Lukhanyo Am dominating the match to give SA a 29-7 lead at half time.

Match Report: The #Springboks scored 10 times in a huge win over a brave Portugal on a celebratory evening in Bloemfontein – more here: https://t.co/gMGK8Qvl3e 📝#MostlyGreenMostlyGold #RSAvPOR photo.twitter.com/vS5o7DCvmY

— Springboks (@Springboks) July 20, 2024

Excited after a good week with the #Springboks for Mapimpi, Venter and Dixon – more here: https://t.co/7ll2p9IFeY 💚💛#MostlyGreenMostlyGold photo.twitter.com/9uNq7dgFDy

— Springboks (@Springboks) July 21, 2024

Four minutes after the break, Erasmus started making substitutions: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu replaced his Stormers mate Libbok and scrumhalf Morne van den Berg made his debut after replacing Cobus Reinach.

Elrigh Louw also came on the field for Stormers no. 8 Evan Roos.

The changes saw a higher level of intensity from the Bok as the experienced Makazole Mapimpi scored the first of his hat-trick of tries, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu sent the left wing clear after a brilliant solo run.

Before Mapimpi completed his hat-trick, reserve defender Horn and forward Venter scored their debut efforts, while Portuguese Dos Santos scored his second. Jose Madeira also crossed the line, giving the visiting fans in Bloemfontein something to celebrate.