The USA U20 Women put the Junior Springbok Women to the sword with a dominant first half display at Markotter Stadium in Stellenbosch on Friday, running out 47-12 winners in the first of two scheduled matches between the sides.
Five first-half tries gave the Americans a commanding 33-0 lead at the break, a margin that effectively settled the contest. The Junior Bok Women were too loose with possession and too passive in defence throughout the opening 40 minutes, conceding territory through poor clearance kicks and compounding the damage with a string of handling errors and ill-judged tactical decisions near the USA line.
Hooker Alyssa Hine opened the scoring after the hosts gifted possession from a kick directly into touch in the fourth minute. South Africa had an immediate chance to respond when awarded a penalty near the USA line, but a quick tap resulted in scrumhalf Danica Pypers being isolated and penalised for holding on. Lock Pip Simmons then exploited a creaking SA scrum to extend the lead to 12-0, before No 8 Maddie Hubbell — who had a try correctly disallowed for stepping into touch — scored legitimately from slick back play to make it 19-0 after 24 minutes, Henrich converting.
USA captain and centre Arielle Fotso crossed for the fourth try after sustained ball-in-hand pressure, converted for 26-0, before No 8 Yanelisa Plaatjie was yellow carded for cynical play and Hine was driven over by the pack from the resulting tap to send the USA into the break 33-0 up.
The second half was a markedly different affair from the hosts. South Africa kept ball in hand, played more direct and the handling was considerably cleaner. Winger Siphumelele Mdlalose got the Junior Boks off the mark, and flyhalf Julene Haas added a second — darting through from close range after sustained forward drives — and converted both.
The USA, however, kept the scoreboard ticking. Hubbell crossed again after South Africa attempted to play out of their own red zone, pushing the lead to 40-5, and a speculative kick contributed to the Americans' final try as they closed out the match at 47-12.
The two sides meet again at Markotter Stadium next Friday. SA's coaching staff have pointed to the second-half improvement as the platform from which to build for the return fixture.