Rugby World Cup | Sale Sharks' AJ MacGinty on USA vs Argentina

MORSON SPORT | 3 MIN READ
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Sale Sharks and USA fly half, AJ MacGinty, discusses the progression of rugby in the USA over the past few years
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We look at his tournament so far as he heads into tomorrow's game against Argentina
Progressing from Pool C was always going to be an extremely tough ask for the growing USA side; with England, France, Argentina and Tonga standing in their way. Three weeks into the tournament and the journey has proved to be as difficult as many predicted, with losses to England and France, despite valiant efforts during both games. However, Sale Sharks’ AJ MacGinty has given Eagles fans moments to cheer about, with 3 penalties and a conversion in the opening games and the fly-half will look to continue to take all opportunities that present themselves in Wednesday’s game against Argentina.
A win over Argentina or Tonga in the coming weeks would be massive for the side whose World Cup record isn’t as favourable to their determination and progress that has been made in expanding the sport further.
AJ spoke to us prior to heading to Japan about how far the side and the sport has come in the U.S last few years...
“I think there has been a lot of progress. There’s been a lot of consistency over the last three/three and a half years since we finished the last World Cup cycle with John Mitchell coming in and his coaching staff. But that’s changed now, the progression of the squad, there’s been the same 50 players for each tour which has been really good for us. Also with the development of Rugby in America all across age groups, with the professional league now, there’s guys coming out of college with a league to come into. Whenever we get together, the standard of the training environment is really good. Hopefully that continues and we see the benefits from it”
“It’s obviously a really tough group. After that last World Cup cycle, the aim was to be number one seed from North America. We’ve never done that before, this is the first time in the group that we achieved that. It puts us in a really difficult group but all the groups are difficult. Every game is massive, all the games in our group are going to be unbelievable games”
We wish AJ and the USA the best of luck tomorrow against Argentina! Keep up to date with our Sale Sharks players who are playing for their country during the Rugby World Cup on @MorsonGroup - exclusive interviews with Tom Curry and Faf De Klerk coming soon!