USA too slick for Junior Springbok Women

The USA U20 Women delivered a strong first half surge (33-0) to eventually outplay the Junior Springbok Women 47-12 at Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday.

Five first half tries laid the foundation for the win, although the hosts rallied well in the second half but to be fair, 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 though 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 unfortunately, as scrumhalf Danica Pypers got isolated and 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.

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, Pip Simmons (lock) worked her way over the line. The conversion was good and the lead 12-0.

In a blink, 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. 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 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 Yanelisa 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 scored their first points.

The SA side did not kick on from that unfortunately. Instead 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.

The home side was starting to dominate though, with a number of charges to the USA line. Sadly, 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 to the line.

The USA was starting to concede a number of penalties as well but where 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 and their final try when a speculative kick up field bounced into the hands of replacement winger Kiyanah Edwards, who ran 40 meters to score.

Score

USA 47 (33) - Tries: Alyssa Hine (2), Pip Simmons, Maddie Hubbell (2). Arielle Fotso, Kiyanah Edwards. Conversions: Annie Henrich (6)

SA 12 (0) - Tries: Julene Haas, Siphumelele Mdlalose. Conversion: Haas