USA Women’s U20s secured two wins in South Africa against the Springbok Women Under 20s.
Head Coach Katie Dowty has reflected on the team’s two matches against South Africa Women’s Under-20s with immense positivity.
A fortnight’s stay at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport [SAS] were marked with two wins against their Springbok counterparts.
The first result saw the Eagles register a 47-12 win, as both Alyssa Hine and Madelyn Hubbell crossed the whitewash twice in a seven-try victory, and a week later the USA scored 10 tries to win 60-17, while Hubbell scored a hat-trick on another standout performance from the No.8.
Hubbell’s tries saw the Harvard University back-row named as the tour’s most valuable player. It was the perfect follow-up to a two-game Test series that took place between the Springbok Women and USA Women’s Eagles earlier in July. Each team won a game each over those two weekends.
An opportunity to carry on the work of that tour, Dowty believes that solid foundations have been laid for the next two Women’s Rugby World Cup cycles as the current U20 age group look to make their mark in senior Test match rugby sooner rather than later.
“I’m feeling pretty fulfilled,” Dowty said. “We set forth [going into this tour] with a vision. This age group is going to be in their prime playing years for the 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“We framed the whole tour around them aspiring to play the unique American style of rugby that will help us to challenge and win a World Cup in 2033. They really bought into that.”
“They showed a really dynamic, fast, skilled, high IQ brand of rugby that this group is capable of playing.”
At Markotter Field the USA controlled back-to-back fixtures. As Alyssa Hine, Seq’hiya "Pip" Simmons, Madelyn Hubbell, Arielle Fotso and Kiyanah Edwards all crossed the try line in game one, Annie Henrick kicked six conversions.
The USA enjoyed the majority of the possession, forced six penalties and even made 26 offloads as vibrant, attacking rugby superpowered the win.
Game two was an almost entirely different proposition. Heading into the contest the Springboks made a number of changes to their starting XV. Even though South Africa did take the lead after six minutes, soon enough the first half scores of Bella Vofel, Kiyanah Eswards and Madelyn Hubbell’s hat-trick meant that the contest was as good as won.
Yet again the USA found ways to make periods of running rugby pay dividends. They also showed an edge in defense; an area they made 190 tackles and stole the ball twice at the breakdown.
“I was most pleased in game one,” Dowty said. “We, famously as Americans, are really capable of winning go-forward and post-contact meters, but we are not great at capitalizing on momentum and scoring in a variety of ways.”
“This group is really keen to play fast and make the most of momentum. They are really learning quickly how to win and manage momentum throughout a game so that teams are forced to deal with their athleticism in ways other than just heavy carries.”
“In game one they moved the ball well in transition, they were looking to play fast and on their toes. I felt it was an exciting statement for them to make about what we envision for 2033.”
Consecutive wins against South Africa can give the USA great confidence. Not only because of the experience touring or minutes on the pitch, but because just as much as the Eagles class of 2033 put up a strong team, so did the Springboks. And the USA Women’s U20s won big twice on two Fridays in a row.
Along with Hubbell, Dowty was able to pick out several more standout performers, even if the No.8’s performances did land her with the MVP nod.
Alyssa Hine [Life University] was able to impress herself at hooker with her two starts, Annie Henrich [Dartmouth University] looks increasingly confident at scrum-half, while Gianna Veetutu [Lindenwood University] had a breakout campaign at outside center, where she partnered the team’s “smooth operator” and captain, Arielle Fotso [Dartmouth University].
There is little doubt that this next generation of Women’s Eagles will be ready to take the step up to international rugby in the near future.
The USA Women’s U20s did have Test rugby experience in their ranks. After she started fixtures against the Springboks at Ellis Park and Loftus Versfeld – in which she scored 12 points – Bella Vogel started back-to-back matches at fly-half.
Still aged 19, Vogel took part in all three Pacific Four Series fixtures in the spring and now has five caps to her name.
“Bella was brilliant,” Dowty said. “She played absolutely lights out. A lot of these other athletes played with her growing up, so they were excited to play alongside her again.”
“Having her in the mix helped them play to an even higher standard and from Bella’s perspective every minute of competitive rugby that all our athletes can get is hugely important.”
It was not just Vogel that stuck around for another two weekends. USA Women’s Eagles head coach Jack Hanratty and his coaching staff made the trip to Stellenbosch after the Test series.
Hanratty assisted Dowty’s team for two weeks, ran on the kicking tee during matches, lent his experience to the U20s head coach as they aligned a style of play and culture. A style of play and culture which could be designed for long-term success on home soil in 2033.
“I think it was the best development that I’ve ever had as a coach,” Dowty said.
“Him being there helped us massively – just learning in real-time exactly how they operate at the highest level. I think Jack is one of the best coaches in the world from what I have seen.”
“It was so powerful to get to know him and know the style of play and know the style of play that he aspires for us to play and that we are aligned with. We’re very aligned with that and how approachable he is on the journey [to Women’s Rugby World Cup 2033].”
| Name | Club / University Team |
|---|---|
| Kaylie Castro | LaSalle University |
| Evie Danhof | Lindenwood University |
| Kiyanah Edwards | American International College |
| Nevaeh Elliott | Life University |
| Jasmine Fehoko | Lindenwood University |
| Arielle Fotso | Dartmouth College |
| Olivia Frisby | Life University |
| Cora Haughey | Life University |
| Annie Henrich | Dartmouth College |
| Alyssa Hine | Life University |
| Madelyn Hubbell | Harvard University |
| Marley April Larkin | Dartmouth College |
| Amenekina Latu | Life University |
| Sana'a Lunon | Harvard University |
| JoJo Mignone | Harvard University |
| Reece Moody | Dartmouth College |
| Keilikki Nau Rarick | Lindenwood University |
| Gemma Ogoke | Harvard University |
| Eseta Pale | Harvard University |
| Cecelia Rose | Life University |
| Seq’hiya "Pip" Simmons | University of Lethbridge, Denver Onyx |
| Alilia Tuitavake | Life University |
| Lesli Tupou | Majestics Rugby Club |
| Salote "Lala" Valikoula | High School Old Boys (Christchurch, NZ) |
| Gianna Veetutu | Lindenwood University |
| Bella Vogel | Life University |
| Dorothy Vunipola | Life University |
| RESERVES | |
| Natalie Allen | Frostburg State University |
| Marjorie Hoffman-Long | Berks County Rugby Club |
| Bridget McGonigle | Doylestown Rugby Academy |
| Nakato Myers | Raleigh Rugby Club |
| Aubrey Phillips | Boise State University |
| Sydney-Rae Pua | Belmont Shore Rugby Club |
July 17th | USA U20s v Junior Springbok Women (W) 47-12
July 24th | USA U20s v Junior Springbok Women (W) 60-17
Replay on Springboks YouTube @OffcialBokTube
Head Coach | Katie Dowty
Assistant Coach | Kate Daley
Assistant Coach | Katie Chou
Strength & Conditioning Coach | Kristin Zdanczewicz
Lead Athletic Trainer | Sam Malette
Athletic Trainer | Mia Pelton
Analyst | Callum Howells
Team Manager | Hannah Reid
