USA U20s Win South Africa Series

On July 24, the USA Rugby Women’s U20 15s team finished its time in South Africa with a 60-17 win against the host Junior Springboks. The win follows a 47-12 victory on July 17, making for a successful 2-0 tour to Stellensbosch. Harvard No. 8 Maddie Hubbell, who was outstanding on defense, in support and in scoring five tries, was named Player of the Series. [lead photo c/o USA Rugby ]

The South Africa U20s came ready to play in Friday’s rematch. Seven minutes in and the hosts were crossing the try line, although hooker Alyssa Hine, who had a great tournament, was able to get under the first grounding attempt. But with ball in good attacking territory, the Junior Springboks were able to drive a lineout across the whitewash for the game’s first points: 5-0.

But that was the only lead that the hosts were able to enjoy, and a knock-on from the subsequent restart put the USA in good position for its opening score. A solid scrum saw the ball move to one end of the pitch, and then on the way back, lock Pip Simmons hit flyhalf Bella Vogel out the back. The capped 15s Eagle split the defense for the try and scrumhalf Annie Henrich added the extras. The halfback pairing was once again stellar together, 7-5.

Henrich fielded the line-drive restart and placed an excellent return kick to South Africa’s 10 meter. It was returned poorly and the home side was all offsides when it attempted to recover the ball. The USA scrum set the platform for outside center Gianna Ve’etutu to insert into the line with excellent speed, then ball worked wide from Henrich to Vogel and then Kiyanah Edwards on the edge: 12-5.

 

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South Africa enjoyed some advantageous territory but then an overthrown lineout nullified an opportunity for points. The USA recovered the ball and moved it to Ve’etutu, who will be a Lindenwood Lion this fall, for a big breakaway to the South Africa 22. After a penalty scrum, Hubbell picked from the back and the hard-working Gemma Ogoke, who served as vice captain, and Likki Nau Rarick punched forward. Another Hubbell pick with Simmons driving from behind put the duo over the line: 17-5 after 22 minutes.

Fullback Jojo Mignone fielded a South African attempt to clear its lines, and the Harvard player quickly moved ball to Hine and then Sana’a Lunon on the wing. The Harvard flyer pushed off the defender and got the pass back inside to Hubbell, who cut back against the defense for the centered try. Henrich converted for the 24-5 lead.

South Africa then rallied for some solid time on attack and put another five on the board after an eightman pick from a five-meter scrum, 24-10. The USA immediately answered, taking advantage as the Junior Springboks let the restart hit the ground. The defense swarmed, forcing a kick exchange, and the chasing Mignone and Edwards did well to keep that pressure on. After some tight passes inside the 22, a nice flat pass from captain Arielle Fotso to Hubbell saw the No. 8 score her fifth try of the series, 31-10.

 

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The hosts were not deterred, however, and responded with a drive across the USA try line. It was held up and so Vogel sent a goal-line dropkick downfield. The ball was misplayed as it dribbled between two potential receivers, and again the defense did well to force more mistakes. Fotso kicked a dropped ball off the ground, and Henrich was in quick pursuit to keep the kick-chase in play and angled it toward Lunon running ahead. The series eventually ended with a scramble inside the 10, a penalty, then the half: 31-10 to the junior Eagles.

Approximately 10 minutes elapsed before the second-half scoreboard ticked over, and after a TMO review, the hosts were awarded with a pushover try and conversion: 31-17. The USA responded with more solid defense, with stifling hits coming from Hubbell, Ogoke and reserve forwards Jasmine Fehoko and Lala Valikoula, among many other teammates. All that big contact didn’t disrupt the forwards’ ability to connect on attack, in tight and through traffic. Reserve flanker Cora Haughey took the final pass inside the 10 to score the USA’s sixth try. Henrich, who moved to wing when reserve scrumhalf Cece Rose came on, kicked the extras: 38-17 after approximately 60 minutes.

South Africa began to dismantle in the fourth quarter, and by minute 62, the hosts were down to 13 players. Meanwhile, the USA opened up, making good use of the extra space. Haughey ripped the ball out of the attacking No. 8’s hands and a penalty allowed Vogel to set up what may or may not have been a planned play. The Life University player punted a line drive to Lunon and Edwards racing up the sideline, and the former scooped up the bouncing ball on the hop. Lunon got the ball off to Edwards, who charged up the touch line, and Hines was right on the AIC player’s heels to secure the ruck and get the ball back for recycling. An excellent tip pass from Kina Latu to Fehoko saw the Lindenwood power forward just barrel through the defense for the try, 43-17.

Another flat pass from Latu released Fehoko into open space, and excellent open-field connection between Fotso and Henrich took advantage of a scrambling defense. The try was recalled for a previous, accidental obstruction call, but those points would be restored soon enough. South Africa restarted the ball from the mark and broke through the middle, where Vogel was waiting. The flyhalf forced a not-releasing penalty, tapped through the mark, then angled toward Edwards on the edge for a nice gain. South Africa was penalized in a scrum, Vogel kicked to touch, and then the forwards drove a lovely lineout to the line. The hosts, which were back to full strength, collapsed the maul and thus a penalty try was awarded: 50-17.

 

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The junior Eagles still had plenty of gas, and from the restart, Fotso and Vogel connected for a line break. Just before the cover tackle, Vogel found reserve wing Neveah Elliott all alone on the sideline, and the Life University player showed a clean pair of heels all the way to try zone, 55-17.

The game ended with a nice team try. A smooth attacking lineout moved wide, and Henrich chipped over the defense to release Elliott into the chase. The recovery was clean and then moved to the opposite edge, where Ogoke cleaned up a bouncing pass and moved it to Hines for the try: 60-17 the final.

It was a superb series for the USA U20s, and the South African commentators (who were part of an excellent broadcast overall) called the squad “a polished outfit.” The squad truly impressed in their connection, energy and creative play, generating all kinds of excitement for what’s to come.