'You remember those days... no one was coming down that channel'
Bristol boss Pat Lam has been reminiscing about the incredible 2015/16 title-winning season at Connacht where AJ MacGinty, the new Bears signing, supremely ran the show at out-half in a backline where he had the burgeoning midfield partnership of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw operating outside him. Aki and Henshaw have gone on to enjoy fantastic achievements since then, helping Ireland to the 2018 Six Nations Grand Slam and touring together with the 2021 Lions in South Africa.
In the meantime, MacGinty’s own career progress hasn’t been too shabby either. Having originally caught the eye of Lam as a free agent while playing for the USA at the 2015 World Cup, the Dubliner was only able to stay a year at Connacht due to IRFU red tape insisting that non-qualified Ireland players weren’t entitled to contract extensions.
This left MacGinty without a club even though he has just orchestrated the most sublime Connacht performance in their title final win over Leinster in Edinburgh. Lam got on the blower, managed to convince Steve Diamond to take a punt on a player he didn’t know and the rest is Premiership history.
MacGinty has since gone on to become a trusted part of the furniture at the Sharks and while Lam failed in previous attempts to sign his old Connacht player for Bristol, the stars aligned in recent weeks as the out-half was unveiled as a new Bears signing for the upcoming 2022/23 season, recruitment that resulted in Sale last week announcing they would now be bringing in George Ford as the American international’s replacement.
Set to turn 32 in February, it’s a big move for MacGinty to reunite with Lam all these years after their amazing triumph with Connacht and the Bristol coach has now recalled those times they had together previously. “The big thing with AJ first and foremost is he was an excellent team person, all about the team,” said Lam when asked by RugbyPass about his relationship with MacGinty from their time in Galway.
TRANSFER: Pat Lam will finally get to work again with his coveted Connacht PRO12 title winning out-half…#USA #GallagherPrem #Bears #Sharks
https://t.co/cNG9rn7dX2— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 10, 2021
“We were very aligned about how we like the game to be played and then by being a good person, a good communicator and a world-class rugby player, which is exactly what you want from your tens, he was able to drive the game where you know the guys will look up to him, respect him. He will fit in nicely with the (Bristol) group. His fundamental skills are excellent too.
“He has obviously got a very good kicking game, being an ex-scrum-half which is why it worked very well for him in Connacht. What he could do was fire passes left and right quickly, but he is also a big defender. You remember those days, it was very difficult for anyone to get past AJ MacGinty, Bundee Aki at 12 and Robbie Henshaw at 13. No one was coming down that channel. Certainly, he will fit in nicely here.”
Lam further remembered the ringing around he did on behalf of MacGinty to get the player a deal elsewhere after the union in Ireland refused to allow the Dubliner to be re-contracted as he was an American international. “When it came to the IRFU and he wasn’t allowed to stay I rang the Premiership clubs because I knew he would be good in the Premiership.
“I pretty much rang most of the directors of rugby because I knew them and the first guy to take him up was Steve Diamond. Steve hadn’t heard of him but he said, ‘Pat, you really believe in him?’ I said, ‘Steve, honestly, we would keep this guy if we could’. Steve flew him over and 24 hours later signed him.
“I wasn’t joking with Steve, I tried to get him (back) a few times and Steve wasn’t budging, but the Premiership, playing with a good Sale team, and then having another World Cup, the experience of playing week in week out in the Prem, international rugby, the World Cups, has helped him to develop his game.”
Why have the stars aligned on this occasion, though, for Lam to get MacGinty, the 30-cap Test player, onboard at Bristol “It comes down to timing, is he available?
“Sometimes when he was available we didn’t have an option and sometimes we had an option and he wasn’t available, but everything aligned this time and the big thing is our connection and relationship, but certainly his goals and the Bears goals are aligned as well. He will add real value to us.”
Comments on RugbyPass
What a load of bollocks. The author has forgotten to mention the fact that the Crusaders have a huge injury toll with top world class players out. Not to mention the fact that they are obviously in a transition period. No this will not spark a slow death for NZ rugby, but it does mean there will be a new Super Rugby champion. Anyone who knows anything about NZ rugby knows that there is some serious talent here, it just isn’t all at the Crusaders.
1 Go to commentsI wouldn’t spend the time on Nawaqanitawase! No point in having him filling in a jersey when he’s committed to leave Union. Give the jersey to a young prospect who will be here in the future.
4 Go to commentsIt was a pleasure to watch those guys playing with such confidence. That trio can all be infuriating for different reasons and I can see why Jones might have decided against them. No way to justify leaving Ikitau out though. Jorgensen and him were both scheduled to return at the same time. Only one of them plays for Randwick and has a dad who is great mates with the national coach though.
53 Go to commentsBrayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
4 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to comments