The USA Women outplayed the Springbok Women 26-19 (half-time 14-12) to level the two-Test series, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 11 July 2026.
South Africa won the first Test 34-21 at Ellis Park last week, but came up against a determined USA side in the rematch, while their own effort fell short of expectations and a famous first series win over the Eagles.
The match kicked off in perfect playing conditions, but the same could not be said of the opening 20 minutes, with both sides erratic in their execution and handling errors the main culprit in a stop-start contest. The Bok Women were their own worst enemies, conceding too many penalties at the breakdown.
The USA started best and enjoyed early possession and territory, and after South Africa were twice penalised in their red zone, prop Hope Rogers crashed over next to the posts from a tap and go after repeated charges up the middle. Bella Vogel converted for a 7-0 lead after 21 minutes. The visitors lost tighthead prop Elizabeth Cook to injury in the same movement, with Reece Woods coming on as her replacement.
It took the Bok Women 25 minutes to fire, but when they did, they did so in impressive fashion. A beautiful run by Alichia Arries, in which she rounded three defenders, finished in a brilliant try under the sticks, and Jakkie Cilliers converted to level matters at 7-7.
The USA mauled strongly in response and appeared to lose the ball over the tryline, only for Cilliers to snap it up and run the length of the field, but the TMO intervened and replays confirmed Rogers had scored her second try. Vogel’s touchline conversion made it 14-7 after 30 minutes. The Bok Women hit back instantly, a lineout and strong forward carries ending with Micke Gunter scoring in the corner to cut the deficit to 14-12 at half-time.
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Wing Telesi Uhatafe swerved past a couple of would-be tacklers to score under the posts early in the second half, Vogel extending the lead to 21-12, and the South Africans’ misery at the breakdown continued when referee Zoe Naude sent Logan Welman to the sin-bin. Uhatafe thought she had a second, but a brilliant Eloise Webb tackle denied her and allowed the Bok Women to regather their composure.
Welman returned and, with head coach Swys de Bruin clearing his bench, the home side had one final deck of cards to play with 20 minutes left. However, a probing USA kick on the counter-attack bounced kindly for Uhatafe, who crossed for her second try to hand the visitors a 26-12 lead with 14 minutes to play.
A brilliant break by Ayanda Malinga led to a try under the posts, with Cilliers’ conversion closing the gap to 26-19 with 12 minutes remaining, but hard as they tried, the Bok Women could not muster a final play to secure a draw. They lost an attacking lineout, were pushed off the ball after opting for a scrum from a penalty, and then lost the ball in contact. That summed up their efforts for the day: brave enough, but not good enough.
De Bruin nonetheless expressed satisfaction with the progress his team made in the drawn series, and said it bodes well for the remaining matches in 2026.
“If you asked me two months ago if I will accept a drawn series, I would have taken it,” said De Bruin.
“After today, where we did not play our best rugby, I am still pleased with the progress. We were one try away from drawing the match and the fightback we showed was very pleasing.”
Springbok Women Head Coach, Swys de Bruin
De Bruin said he was frustrated at the results around the breakdown, where his side were often penalised: “I will have a good look [at] what went wrong there. Maybe our support players did not arrive in time or maybe they got lucky, but the bottom line was that it robbed us of momentum and we just could not get going. It was frustrating, but it is something we can fix.”
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According to the Bok Women coach, the players were not taking the defeat well, which he said is exactly how it should be.
“The days of us accepting defeat are gone and I love that attitude,” he said.
“We are now taking on the big teams and matches against them are a real arm wrestle. Look back at a year ago when Canada rolled us over here at Loftus. The progress is real and we can feel it.
“We have some tough matches for the rest of the year and we will have to dig deep. What I know about our team after these two matches is that their fight is real and they refuse to give up. The fact that we scored three very good tries was also very pleasing.”
Bok Women captain Babalwa Latsha said that although the execution on the day was not their best, the reality of playing on the big stage has been embraced by all.
“We certainly are on an upward curve since the Women’s Rugby World Cup and we are starting to believe.”
Springbok Women Captain, Babalwa Latsha
“We have no plans to go back to the team of old, we are here and we are real. Today’s result was marginal and we showed over the last two weeks that [we] can compete with the top sides in the world.”
The squad will have a short rest before returning to their Stellenbosch base to prepare for a two-Test tour to Fiji in August.
Results of the 2026 Springbok Women vs. USA Women Test Series — Series Drawn 1-All
Saturday, 4 July: Springbok Women 34-21 USA Women (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)
Saturday, 11 July: Springbok Women 19-26 USA Women (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria)
Springbok Women 19 (12) – 26 (14) USA Women – Scorers
Springbok Women – Tries: Alichia Arries, Micke Gunter, Ayanda Malinga
Conversions: Jakkie Cilliers (2)
USA Women – Tries: Hope Rogers (2), Telesi Uhatafe (2)
Conversions: Bella Vogel (3)
Springbok Women Starting XV
1. Sanelisiwe Charlie
2. Micke Gunter
3. Babalwa Latsha (Captain)
4. Vainah Ubisi
5. Danelle Lochner
6. Sizophila Solontsi
7. Catha Jacobs
8. Logan Welman
9. Unam Tose
10. Libbie Janse van Rensburg
11. Alichia Arries
12. Aphiwe Ngwevu
13. Ayanda Malinga
14. Jakkie Cilliers
15. Eloise Webb
Replacements
16. Anushka Groenewald
17. Yonela Ngxingolo
18. Nombuyekezo Mdliki
19. Nomsa Mokwai
20. Lerato Makua
21. Sinelitha Noxeke
22. Anacadia Minnaar
23. Maceala Samboya
USA Women Starting XV
1. Hope Rogers
2. Kathryn Treder
3. Elizabeth Cook
4. Emerson Allen
5. Hallie Taufoou
6. Hann Humphreys
7. Georgie Perris-Redding (Captain)
8. Freda Tafuna
9. Olivia Ortiz
10. Kristin Bitter
11. Telesi Uhatafe
12. Bella Vogel
13. Tessa Hann
14. Bulou Mataitoga
15. Ashley Cowdrey
Replacements
16. Chloe Hill-Huse (Uncapped)
17. Alivia Leatherman
18. Reece Woods
19. Rachel Ehrecke
20. Kapoina Bailey
21. Taina Tukuafu
22. Katana Howard
23. Alev Kelter
Original Copy: SA Rugby Communications, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: Alichia Arries rounded three defenders for a brilliant solo score in the first half, but the Springbok Women fell 26-19 to the USA Women in the second Test as the visitors levelled the two-Test series, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 11 July 2026. Photo: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: Head coach Swys de Bruin said the fightback proved the progress made in 2026 is real. Photo: SA Rugby
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