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'A lot of notes to go over': AJ MacGinty's first Bristol interview

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

New Bristol signing AJ MacGinty has given his first interview as a Bears player, explaining why he joined the Gallagher Premiership club after six successful seasons at Sale. The 32-year-old Dubliner began pre-season training last week following a summer of Test rugby that ended for him with the USA losing their two-legged World Cup qualifier to Chile in Colorado.

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Having since been on holiday, MacGinty has now gone to work at his new club and is finishing his second week of pre-season on the training ground in Bristol after Pat Lam left him out of the 36-strong Bears squad that has gone to France to play Brive in a Friday night friendly.

A decade ago, MacGinty spent his summer working in a New York bar with the dream of making it in professional rugby something that wasn’t on his radar at the time. He eventually broke through when helping Connacht to win the 2015/16 PRO12 title under Lam and is now enjoying the bedding-in process so far at Bristol.

In his first interview as a Bears player, he explained to the club’s website why he was tempted into signing for Lam last November at a time when there was still an opportunity to sign an extension at Sale. “Having played against Bristol over the years, the atmosphere in the stadium, looking around the place here, the facilities are incredible and there was a lot that drew me down. I’m just really happy to be here and get going,” he said.

“Pat gave me my first opportunity in professional rugby and that was going down to Connacht and then after that, I went and played in Sale. My first year of professional rugby was under him [Lam] and I learned a lot through him, John Muldoon, who was the captain of Connacht then, and Conor McPhillips, was also working on the staff then too.

“It helps to know them coming into the environment, knowing what they are about and how they see the game. But obviously, over the last seven years, rugby has evolved and changed and I’m excited to see how they have adapted or how they have changed their approach and how there is more that I can learn and appreciate about the game.

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“As I learned last week about the detail and staying on top of things, I have got a lot of notes to go over. For me coming in there is stuff that I have to learn to get on the same page as the rest of the group and there are also other new signings that are here and bedding themselves in. Excited to get on the journey and get going.

“It has been good. I am getting to know a lot of the new faces and information rugby-wise. Really excited to be here. It’s challenging, there have been some tough sessions and the body was a bit sore last weekend, but overall I have enjoyed it.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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TRENDING Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea Marcus Smith on that substitution and his England plea
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