USA U20s Win Opener in South Africa

The USA Rugby Women’s U20 Team won its opening match against the South Africa U20s 47-12 (watch the replay). The teams will return to the Stellensbosch Academy of Sport on Friday, July 24 for the rematch, which will live stream on South Africa Rugby Union’s YouTube Channel.

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The junior Eagles played an organized, connected and fast game from the onset. Set pieces were solid, defense exerted pressure well, passes were followed and hands ready to receive. With those tenets in place, the U20s played with confidence and joy.

Early dominance in the scrum helped set up the U.S.’s first try, as did the consistent quick taps from halfbacks Annie Henrich and Bella Vogel. Importantly, they never bolted alone so these pierces typically provided quick meters as well as more penalties. Once at the line, the forwards went to work and hooker Alyssa Hine — who was very good on both sides of the ball — dove over the line six minutes in. The Rocky Mountain (Idaho) product who transferred from BYU to Life University ahead of this season scored the half’s last try as well.

South Africa struggled with some handling errors and those missteps aided the Americans’ time in good attacking territory. Lock Pip Simmons had a go at the line and then relied on a good leg drive to get the ball over the whitewash: 12-0 with Henrich’s conversion. The scrumhalf went 6/7 off the tee overall.

Minutes later, a really nice Vogel kick into space put the game on the junior Boks’ five meter, and good pressure rushed the return kick. The forwards were well positioned for the clearance. Hine caught the ball over her shoulder, quickly moved it to flanker Gemma Ogoke, who hit Harvard teammate Maddie Hubbell on the sideline. The No. 8 tore down the sideline, pushing off defenders and dove into the try line. But upon review, a foot had just grazed touch, recalling the try. Hubbell would find recompense, twice, later in the match.

 

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The kicking game was a highlight throughout the match. Vogel, as one might expect from a USA-capped flyhalf, did a fantastic job of placing the ball where the defense wasn’t. She also kicked off her left foot, which drew praise from the South African commentators (it was a great feed and broadcast, by the way). Captain Arielle Fotso was also excellent in open play, putting a grubber through the defense. Fullback Jojo Mignone deployed a nice boot to touch, and both scrumhalves, Henrich and Cece Rose, put the ball in play at good times.

The rest of the team did well to move the ball quickly, run on to passes, and hold defenders to take advantage of overloads. It was fast, exciting rugby.

At the 22-minute mark, Henrich drew a not-releasing penalty and Vogel went quickly from the mark. Hubbell was on the flyhalf’s hip, took the offload and accelerated into the try zone, 19-0 with the conversion.

At 36 minutes, prop Reece Moody forced a turnover, Vogel went quickly from the mark and found Henrich for a line-break to the line. After a penalty, the forwards went to work, and then a short pass to Fotso saw the inside center cut against the defense for the try, 26-0 with Henrich’s conversion.

The halfbacks continued to go fast from the mark, even when running out of their own end, and took advantage of slowly retreating defense. Some high tackles resulted, and by game’s end, South Africa banked two yellow cards a 20-minute red card. Hine ended the half with a second try, leading her second pod across the line from five meters out, 33-0 with Henrich’s conversion.

 

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Two minutes into the second half, South Africa was coping with a 13 vs. 15 situation. By minute 51, the game moved to uncontested scrums. With that said, the home side scored two tries through Julene Haas and Siphumelele Mdlalose (Haas added a conversion), and had moments of big defense and creative play (that cross-field kick try!).

The Americans put down two tries as well, and Henrich converted both to outscore South Africa 14-12 in the second 40. From an attacking scrum inside the 22, Hubbell picked off the back and just sliced hard across the defense to score a definitive try. To end the game, Rose sent a box kick from a ruck deep in the Americans’ end, and replacement wing Kiyanah Edwards flew on the chase, catching the ball on the bounce and pulling away for the game’s final try. Henrich’s six conversion ended the game: 47-12.

Tune into @OfficialBokTube for the rematch on Friday, July 24 at 9 a.m. ET.