The Rugby Weekend

Timing Sucks But MacGinty Has To Go Under The Knife

Timing Sucks But MacGinty Has To Go Under The Knife

AJ MacGinty's long-delayed surgery has to happen sometime.

Oct 16, 2018 by Alex Goff
Miss Pass 27 AJ MacGinty

AJ MacGinty's shoulder surgery could hardly come at a worse time for the USA ... or could it?

The Eagle flyhalf has been battling with shoulder issues for some time. He toughed it out during the summer, and through the fall, but there comes a time when you have to think about what could happen if you put off the inevitable too long.

MacGinty Out 12 Weeks With Shoulder Surgery

"I was struggling with it for a while," MacGinty told FloRugby. "I had a labrum tear and a few other tears that needed to be fixed. As bad as the timing is, it's the right decision."

And there it is. As bad as the timing is, think also how bad the timing would be for Sale if his shoulder gave out at the culmination of the season. 

And for USA fans, what if he should get worse and worse and suddenly he was in doubt for the World Cup? Missing the fall test matches is tough, but missing the World Cup is worse.

Options At 10

Right now, USA head coach Gary Gold has several options at flyhalf for this November (MacGinty was not going to be available to play the Maori All Blacks anyway). Will Magie seems to be the logical replacement. He's not the runner MacGinty is, and maybe not the defender, either, but he's a smart player with poise and a good boot.

Ben Cima has an excellent boot, and can run a bit, too, while Will Hooley has been used mostly as a fullback, but is generally a flyhalf for his home club. Meanwhile, from the non-test Americas Pacific Challenge, neither Conor Kearns nor JP Eloff set the world on fire. Both could be that combo flyhalf in the MacGinty mold, but we didn't see those pieces come together in Uruguay.

Look for Magie, who started the entire Americas Rugby Championship for the Eagles, to slot in. He will have a very strong supporting cast around him.