The USA women garnered some measure of payback Saturday with a 26-19 defeat of South Africa in the second test between the two nations.
Coming off a 34-21 loss last week where they outscored the Springboks 22-5 in the second half, the Eagles felt they had more to give. The players who had brought impact off the bench had been rewarded with starting spots, so this was a bit of a new-look team.
This was a tight contest early on and neither team scored into the midpoint of the first half. This was a better start for the USA as they absorbed the physical carries from the hosts. And in fact it was the USA that got close to paydirt first, with the legendary Hope Rogers burrowing over for (by our count) 33rd try for her country.
Center Bella Vogel converted for the 7-0 lead.
This entire try capped off a period in which the USA should have scored much earlier. However, finally, a massive run from Freda Tafuna, and a brilliant take and pass from Hallie Taufoou set up Tassa Hann for a run. She offloaded off the deck to captain Georgia Perris-Redding. From there solid continuity and good work from Tafuna and Rogers especially got them close.
South Africa's ability to offload out of contact saw them put Alichia Arries into space and she cut back, made the Eagle cover defense miss, and was in from long range. Arries showed a ton of pace because wing Telesi Uhatafe clearly through she had the angle but couldn't catch up to the South African.
the USA forwards bashed at the line with about 10 minutes to go in the first half. Rogers once again powered to the line. But then the ball was snatched up and wing Jakkie Cilliers picked up the ball, curved around to find space, and ran out of her own in-goal for a blistering 102-meter run.
Try? Not so fast. On the TMO is was clear Rogers had been tackled and then used her one movement to touch the ball down on the line. Try yes, but for the USA. it was a heartbreaker for South Africa and a massive momentum turnaround.
Vogel slotted the touchline conversion for a 14-7 lead.
But the Boks did answer, with some snappy passing in traffic to put hooker Micke Gunther over in the corner. That made it USA 14 South Africa 12 at halftime.
