The USA Under-20 Women delivered a strong first-half surge to lead 33-0 at the break and eventually outplayed the Junior Springbok Women by 47-12 at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday, 17 July 2026.
Five first-half tries laid the foundation for the win and although the hosts rallied well in the second half, they were never in the game after the first 40 minutes.
The two teams will meet again at the same venue next Friday, with the SA coaches highlighting their second-half effort in order to boost the side for the return match.
The first half clearly showed the difference in intent and execution. The USA started fast and furious and although their first couple of attacks were stopped by South Africa, the pressure was building from early on.
The Junior Bok Women had possession from a scrum after four minutes of play, but conceded that advantage immediately by kicking directly into touch. From the resulting play, the USA moved the ball through the hands and hooker Alyssa Hine crashed over the line for an early lead.
The South Africans had an opportunity to strike back immediately when they were awarded a penalty near the USA line, but a quick tap was the wrong option, as scrumhalf Danica Pypers got isolated and was penalised for holding on. The home side were making too many basic mistakes at this stage to get any fluency in their game, with a number of dropped passes hampering any progress or momentum.
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Instead, the USA set up camp in the SA 22 and launched repeated attacks from close range. The SA scrum was also creaking and from another scrum penalty, lock Pip Simmons worked her way over the line. The conversion was good and the lead 12-0.
In a blink, the USA almost scored again. A poor clearance kick by Pypers was moved wide and No 8 Maddie Hubbell broke through some weak tackles to dive over in the corner, but just stepped into touch in doing so. Less than a minute later though, it was Hubbell who scored a legal try, this time from some good inter-passing by her backs. Annie Henrich converted for a 19-0 lead after 24 minutes.
SA were guilty of not using their opportunities and fluffed another tap penalty near the USA line, only for the Americans to race up the field from the advantage.
They scored a fourth try just before the break and the fifth on the half-time whistle. The fourth came from sustained pressure. The USA kept the ball and possession, with South Africa unable to stop their momentum, and after some good handling, centre and captain Arielle Fotso scored. The conversion was good and the lead jumped to 26-0.
Another break-out by the USA added more misery to the home side. No 8 Yaneliswa Plaatjie was yellow carded for cynical play and from the resulting tap and charge, Hine was driven over by the pack. Henrich converted for a 33-0 lead.
The second half was so much better for South Africa. They kept the ball, played more direct and the handling was sound. That enabled them to play in sustained bursts of possession and pressure, and that soon resulted in points when winger Siphumelele Mdlalose crossed for their first try.
The SA side did not kick on from that. Instead the USA scored next when Hubbell worked her way over, again from a mistake by the hosts, trying to play too much rugby in their red zone. That pushed the lead out to 40-5.
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The home side was starting to dominate though, with a number of charges to the USA line. They could not finish off any of those moves, often coming so close to the line, only for the USA to repel the final surge. The USA were starting to concede a number of penalties as well, but were not made to pay for it the way the locals hoped for.
It took a good run from flyhalf Julene Haas to get the second try on the board. A number of drives by the forwards opened up the defence on the outside and Haas darted through to score under the sticks. She duly converted as well.
The USA scored next for their final try when a speculative kick up field bounced into the hands of replacement wing Kiyanah Edwards, who ran 40 metres to score.
The Junior Springbok Women vs. USA Under-20 Women Series at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch
Fri 17 July: Junior Springbok Women 12 (0) – 47 (33) USA Under-20 Women
Fri 24 July, 15h00: Junior Springbok Women vs. USA Under-20 Women
Points Scorers on Friday, 17 July
Junior Springbok Women – Tries: Julene Haas, Siphumelele Mdlalose
Conversion: Haas
USA Under-20 Women – Tries: Alyssa Hine (2), Pip Simmons, Maddie Hubbell (2), Arielle Fotso, Kiyanah Edwards
Conversions: Annie Henrich (6)
Main Photo Caption: Siphumelele Mdlalose scored the Junior Springbok Women’s first try of the series as the Junior Springbok Women fell 47-12 to the USA Under-20 Women in the opening match of their two-match series at the Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday, 17 July 2026. All Photos: Gallo Images / SA Rugby
Photo 2 Caption: Julene Haas scored a try and a conversion in the series opening match defeat to the USA Under-20 Women in Stellenbosch.
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