By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The USA Women outplayed the Springbok Women 26-19 (half-time 14-12) to level the two-Test series, at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday, 11 July 2026.
South Africa won the first Test 34-21 at Ellis Park last week, but came up against a determined USA side in the rematch, while their own effort fell short of expectations and a famous first series win over the Eagles.
The match kicked off in perfect playing conditions, but the same could not be said of the opening 20 minutes, with both sides erratic in their execution and handling errors the main culprit in a stop-start contest. The Bok Women were their own worst enemies, conceding too many penalties at the breakdown.
Bok Women head coach Swys de Bruin expressed satisfaction with the progress his team has made in the two-Test against the USA Eagles Women, where a win each squared up the series, and said it bodes well for the remaining matches in 2026.
The Bok Women coach admitted that although the result hurt, his players deserved praise for their efforts over the last couple of weeks, preparing for and playing the USA Eagles Women.
“If you asked me two months ago if I will accept a drawn series, I would have taken it,” said De Bruin.
“After today, where we did not play our best rugby, I am still pleased with the progress. We were one try away from drawing the match and the fightback we showed was very pleasing.”
De Bruin said he was frustrated at the results around the breakdown, where they were often penalised: “I will have a good look what went wrong there. Maybe our support players did not arrive in time or maybe they got lucky, but the bottom line was that it robbed us of momentum and we just could not get going. It was frustrating, but it is something we can fix.”
According to the Bok Women coach, the players were not taking the defeat well, as it should be.
“The days of us accepting defeat are gone and I love that attitude,” he said.
“We are now taking on the big teams and matches against them are a real arm wrestle. Look back at a year ago when Canada rolled us over here at Loftus. The progress is real and we can feel it.”
The low of defeat after last weekend’s win will also make the team stronger, he feels.
“We have some tough matches for the rest of the year and we will have to dig deep, “said De Bruin.
“What I know about our team after these two matches is that their fight is real and they refuse to give up. The fact that we scored three very good tries was also very pleasing.”
After the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and the two-Test series against the USA Women’s Eagles, the focus shifts to an away series against Fiji, the once off test match against the Black Ferns in Soweto, the Global WXV Tests in Europe against Wales, Italy and Spain, and the final two matches of the year, against Ireland in Cape Town.
“The next phase of our preparation starts now, and we have extended invitations to some players outside of the group that did so well in Kenya and against the USA,” said De Bruin.
“The players who did duty against the USA will have a short break, before all the invited players will start to reconvene in Stellenbosch the following week in various groups based on individual development needs.”
Springbok Women wider squad:
Props: Sanelisiwe Charlie, Xoliswa Khuzwayo, Yonela Ngxingolo, Anuschka Ekron, Babalwa Latsha, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Thandile Mazwi, Anothando Katshwa.
Hookers: Lindelwa Gwala, Anushka Groenewald, Micke Gunter, Jada Davids, Roseline Botes.
Locks: Vainah Ubisi, Nomsa Mokwai, Zethu Gcaza, Danelle Lochner, Anathi Qolo, Abigail Smit.
Loose and utility forwards: Sizophila Solontsi, Sinelitha Noxeke, Faith Tshauke, Palesa Matee, Ntsako Mbombi, Lerato Makua, Catha Jacobs, Nobuhle Mjwara, Logan Welman, Aseza Hele.
Scrumhalves: Unam Tose, Anacadia Minnaar, Felicia Jacobs.
Flyhalves: Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Eloise Webb, Hayley Hardneck.
Centres: Aphiwe Ngwevu, Shiniqwa Lamprecht, Ayanda Malinga, Zintle Mpupha, Isabela Nel, Jané Mulder.
Outside backs: Alichia Arries, Jakkie Cilliers, Maria Tshiremba, Maceala Samboya, Patience Mokone, Shaunique Alexander, Thobile Msizazwe, Byrhandré Dolf.