'A little Irish jockey, he rode the golden unicorn': The Sale update on injured MacGinty
Alex Sanderson has provided an at times colourful medical update on his injured trio ahead of this Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership semi-final which will see Sale return to Sandy Park, the venue where they were defeated by a point by Exeter last Saturday and lost AJ MacGinty, Akker van der Merwe and Cameron Neild to injury.
The loss of all three for the knockout stages of the tournament would be a huge blow and Sanderson has admitted he is planning to definitely not have two of them available following serious injuries that are still be assessed.
Out-half MacGinty has lit up the Premiership with his form this season, van der Merwe was considered unlucky not to be selected by the Springboks for the upcoming tour versus the Lions, while Neild was a hometown hero who was man-of-the-match in the round 21 demolition of Harlequins before he suffered last week’s injury at Exeter.
Sanderson was initially hesitant to give information on the situation regarding all three players when he appeared at the weekly Sale media briefing on Tuesday evening but he eventually relented and admitted that MacGinty and Neild are unavailable but there is a chance that van der Merwe would likely be available for the final if Sale make it but he is doubtful for this weekend.
“I’m not sure how much I am able to release,” said Sanderson initially when quizzed about the health of the trip injured in Devon last weekend in a match where Sale relinquished a 19-3 lead and lost 19-20 to an opposition that had Sam Skinner red-carded. “I haven’t asked their permission in terms of the severity.
"I rang a few Premiership clubs about finding AJ a spot. I spoke to about four or five of them…"
https://t.co/IKh19f5Z9R— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 25, 2021
“Well actually, AJ is on a conference call with a surgeon this afternoon so we still don’t know about him but thankfully it’s not a hamstring off the bone or any tendons so it could be much worse. It seems like it’s something meniscul, whatever that is, so it’s probably the best thing that could happen, but in terms of operations and moving forward we won’t know until tonight.
“Akker, we are giving him as long as we can this week and there is a chance he might come through. If he is not back this week he pretty much should be back the week after, all being well. Fingers crossed. Cam Neild, no chance unfortunately but again the long-term ramifications I’m not sure.”
A PRO12 title winner with Connacht in 2016, MacGinty, the Irishman who has played for the USA at the World Cup, has been at the fulcrum of the Sale progress to the semi-finals, making 21 appearances – 16 as the starting out-half – in their 22-game campaign.
In that 1,364-minute contribution, some of his headline stats were scoring 188 points, making 401 metres from 126 carries, putting in 133 tackles, giving a dozen try assists, making eleven clean breaks and winning seven turnovers. Those numbers, though, won’t be added to following his injury in the final minute last weekend and while Sale will likely start one-cap Springboks out-half when they visit Exeter again, there is no denying MacGinty will be a huge loss.
“Captain America, that is what we call him now,” quipped Sanderson. “I labelled him as a poor relation to the golden unicorn, I called him a little Irish jockey, he rode the golden unicorn. But that is an underestimation in the extreme, he has been absolutely mercurial, he has been brilliant for us.
“He has played some of his best rugby and he will be sorely missed. We talked about it on the pitch straight after the game, that we can’t let their injuries be in vain this weekend and all of us to some degree will be performing for him as well as the other two. He has been brilliant.”
"Just when you think you have got it one of them gets their hair cut and it totally leaves me flummoxed again for two days" ?
– It's a happy 23rd birthday today for the Curry tins at Sale ? #EXEvSAL
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 15, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Four Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
1 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
9 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
18 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
15 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
2 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
1 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
9 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
9 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
9 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to commentsConnaught man? How you can write that without blushing.
6 Go to comments