The USA Eagles Women levelled the two-Test series against the Springbok Women with a 26-19 win at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, squaring the series after South Africa claimed the first Test at Ellis Park the previous week.
The first quarter was scrappy from both sides, with handling errors and breakdown indiscipline disrupting any rhythm. The USA had three early penalties but failed to score from them, while a promising Bok break was halted by a lost lineout.
Hope Rogers opened the scoring after a series of charges up the middle, crashing over next to the posts from a tap-and-go, with Bella Vogel converting for a 7-0 lead after 21 minutes. The USA lost tighthead prop Elizabeth Cook to injury in the same phase, replaced by Reece Woods.
The Bok Women responded with their best moment of the half. Alichia Arries rounded three defenders with a brilliant run to score under the sticks, and Jakkie Cilliers converted to level at 7-7. Rogers then scored her second after the USA mauled strongly near the line — a TMO review confirmed the try despite Cilliers briefly appearing to intercept and run the length of the field — and Vogel's conversion from the touchline made it 14-7 after 30 minutes. Micke Gunter scored in the corner from a lineout drive to cut the deficit to two points at half-time.
The USA came out sharper after the break, with wing Telesi Uhatafe swerving through to score under the posts and Vogel extending the lead to 21-12. Breakdown penalties continued to haunt the home side, with referee Zoe Naude sending Logan Welman to the sin-bin. Eloise Webb's tackle denied Uhatafe what appeared to be a second try and allowed the Boks a moment to regroup, but a subsequent lineout penalty gifted away another promising attacking position.
With Welman back on and coach Swys de Bruin having emptied his bench, South Africa had 20 minutes to find a way back. Instead, a counter-attacking kick bounced favourably for Uhatafe, who crossed for her second to put the USA 26-12 clear with 14 minutes remaining.
Ayanda Malinga broke brilliantly to set up a converted try that brought it back to 26-19 with 12 minutes to play, and the Bok Women pressed hard for a final score. They lost an attacking lineout, opted for a scrum from a penalty and were driven off the ball, and could not manufacture the play needed to draw level, leaving the series tied at one Test apiece.