eagles.rugby – The USA Women’s Eagles bounced back from a July 4 loss to South Africa for a 26-19 victory against the hosts inside Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. No. 8 Freda Tafuna was named Player of the Match. The Eagles have now finished tour with a 1-1 record. [Photo: Deon van Der Merwe for USA Rugby]

“We came here to get a couple test match victories,” USA Women’s National Team head coach Jack Hanratty said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get that, but what we did get was an incredible response during the week and a lot of honesty and incredible hard work.”

The Eagles delivered a strong performance from the kickoff, holding a strong defensive line and eventually securing the first try from front row Hope Rogers. South Africa responded with one of their own, but Rogers answered with a second try. The Springboks again countered, though failing to convert, putting the USA up 14-12 at the half.

The Eagles started the second half strongly, building forward momentum through a Telesi Uhatafe 50-meter breakaway try. Close encounters at the try line tested the Eagles’ defense but the USA held possession and thwarted Springbok threats. With the Eagles on the attack, speed from Uhatafe again was put on display with a chip and chase securing the Eagles’ fourth try, 26-12 to the USA.

With just 10 minutes left on the clock, the South Africans fell into stride and powered across the line, bringing them within striking distance at 26-19 and spurring a strong surge at the USA line during the final minutes. Despite some strong carries to the American try line, the Eagles held off the Springboks for the win.

Player of the Match and No. 8 Freda Tafuna set the tone for discipline and set-piece execution — two pillars that helped seal the win.

“I’m really, really proud to get another three new caps on this tour, which overall takes this year to nine new caps, which is brilliant, especially on this platform in South Africa,” Hanratty said.

“We need to get a lot better if we want to compete on a global scale, but we know that,” he added. “This is a wider group of not just the 30 on the ground, it’s a group of U20s that arrive here in South Africa tomorrow, it’s a group of Falcons that will go away to Brazil in a number of weeks, all working to strengthen the USA Eagles platform.

“We’re really excited with the challenge, but we know we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Hanratty closed. “I was so delighted to hear that test match win song in the locker room and hope the players get to enjoy it after another three weeks of hard work.”

The USA Under-20s will arrive in South Africa tomorrow for a two-test tour against the Springbok Women U20s, kicking off next week, while the Falcons will head to Brazil to play two matches in August.

USA ROSTER v SOUTH AFRICA

1 Hope Rogers (63 caps)
2 Kathryn Treder (39)
3 Elizabeth Cook (2)
4 Emerson Allen (4)
5 Hallie Taufoou (35)
6 Hann Humphreys (5)
7 Georgie Perris-Redding (C) (23)
8 Freda Tafuna (22)
9 Olivia Ortiz (32)
10 Kristin Bitter (12)
11 Telesi Uhatafe (5)
12 Bella Vogel (5)
13 Tessa Hann (7)
14 Bulou Mataitoga (33)
15 Ashley Cowdrey (2)

16 Chloe Hill-Huse* (1)
17 Alivia Leatherman (15)
18 Reece Woods (5)
19 Rachel Ehrecke (28)
20 Kapoina Bailey (6)
21 Taina Tukuafu (15)
22 Katana Howard (27)
23 Alev Kelter (37)

* Denotes new cap

TOUR RESULTS

July 4 @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg
South Africa 43-21 USA

July 11 @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
USA 26-19 South Africa

STAFF

Jack Hanratty | Head Coach
Sarah Chobot | Assistant Coach
Lou Meadows | Assistant Coach
Jon Humphreys | Assistant Coach
Michael Deasy | Head of Athletic Performance
Sam Malette | Lead Athletic Trainer
Mia Pelton | Athletic Trainer
Abigail Hamilton | Team Physician
Hannah Reid | Team Manager
Rudy Betancourt | Videographer

SCHEDULE

Saturday October 17
Texas Health Mansfield Stadium, Mansfield, TX
5 p.m. CT USA vs Italy

Saturday October 24
GEODIS Park, Nashville, TN
3:15 p.m. ET USA vs Italy

Friday October 30
Sports Illustrated Stadium, Newark, NJ
5:15 p.m. ET USA vs England