Modern Television Pundits/Commentators

Jump_In_Jack · 14-02-2018 6:36pm #1

Just setting this up to discuss the general views about the modern set of pundits covering PRo14 and 6Nations matches lately, and podcasts and articles particularly from recently retired players.

Personally I'm not a fan of Luke Fitzgerald (as a pundit) since he has retired, my impression (rightly or wrongly) is he is still bitter about retiring early and not achieving his perceived (by him) potential, and he's hung up on praising anything Leinster, and critiquing anyone that plays in his old positions.
My favourite retired commentator is Marcus Horan on TG4, he has a genuine warmth about him when interviewing the players. No jealousy, no negativity.
I similarly always liked Keith Wood on the BBC too; he seemed to hit the nail on the head with his comments.
I find BOD and ROG to be very interesting also as they obviously have a wealth of experience to draw from, and it's great to hear their take on matches.
Particularly how the players and coaches will be preparing and little insider details about the habits and personalities as well as the systems used to prepare and perform, and how they measure success in every aspect of performance.
Horgan and Jennings have been pretty good, and Matt Williams is very astute also, I've found the TV3 panels quite good overall lately.
I'm coming around to liking Eddie O'SUllivan lately too, I think he's found the right balance lately in his analysis between constructive criticism and picking out examples of positive play.

thomond2006 · 14-02-2018 6:53pm

Neil Francis

mfceiling · 14-02-2018 7:03pm

Bill McClarens voice was the game of rugby to me. Growing up watching rugby in the 80's was all about his ability to bring a dour encounter to life.

CatFromHue · 14-02-2018 7:44pm

I like Reggie Corrigan's interviewing skills

Jack Kanoff · 14-02-2018 7:49pm

I think for proper, unbiased and impartial commentary by someone who truly knows his onions ... You can't look any further than Frankie Sheehan.

:pac:

Professor Moriarty · 14-02-2018 7:56pm

mfceiling wrote: »

Bill McClarens voice was the game of rugby to me. Growing up watching rugby in the 80's was all about his ability to bring a dour encounter to life.

Rugby's Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh.

prawnsambo · 14-02-2018 8:13pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

I like Reggie Corrigan's interviewing skills

Zzippy · 14-02-2018 10:27pm

CatFromHue wrote: »

I like Reggie Corrigan's interviewing skills

I dunno, I like him but I feel like he's not bringing everything to the role, like he's not fully committed or something...

prawnsambo · 14-02-2018 10:51pm

Zzippy wrote: »

I dunno, I like him but I feel like he's not bringing everything to the role, like he's not fully committed or something...

I was wondering would anyone actually get the reference.

Jack Kanoff · 14-02-2018 10:53pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

I was wondering would anyone actually get the reference.

Yeah, it was as subtle as an Irish rugby huddle cancellation.

prawnsambo · 14-02-2018 11:07pm

Jack Kanoff wrote: »

Yeah, it was as subtle as an Irish rugby huddle cancellation.

I think your sense of humour got lost in the post. :pac:

Sanjuro · 14-02-2018 11:37pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

Neil Francis

... should be marched into the sea.

14-02-2018 11:59pm

prawnsambo wrote: »

Sky Sports Pundit: "Andrew Conway, how does it feel to win Man of the Match in Munsters Champions Cup win...?"

Andrew Conway: "Yeah.. I .."
Peter O'Mahony: "ARE YOU QUESTIONING MY TEAM MATES??????"

Jack Kanoff · 15-02-2018 12:35am

Sanjuro wrote: »

... should be marched into the sea.

And then a little further...just to be sure.

Losty Dublin · 15-02-2018 12:46am

mfceiling wrote: »

Bill McClarens voice was the game of rugby to me. Growing up watching rugby in the 80's was all about his ability to bring a dour encounter to life.

I love how he calls this piece of magic. One of the few times ever that he showed bias for a try. As good as the try itself

Bonus points if you can identify his trainee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQvBcPgq8q4

ScissorPaperRock · 15-02-2018 8:56am

Jump_In_Jack wrote: »

Just setting this up to discuss the general views about the modern set of pundits covering PRo14 and 6Nations matches lately, and podcasts and articles particularly from recently retired players.

Personally I'm not a fan of Luke Fitzgerald (as a pundit) since he has retired, my impression (rightly or wrongly) is he is still bitter about retiring early and not achieving his perceived (by him) potential, and he's hung up on praising anything Leinster, and critiquing anyone that plays in his old positions.
My favourite retired commentator is Marcus Horan on TG4, he has a genuine warmth about him when interviewing the players. No jealousy, no negativity.
I similarly always liked Keith Wood on the BBC too; he seemed to hit the nail on the head with his comments.
I find BOD and ROG to be very interesting also as they obviously have a wealth of experience to draw from, and it's great to hear their take on matches.
Particularly how the players and coaches will be preparing and little insider details about the habits and personalities as well as the systems used to prepare and perform, and how they measure success in every aspect of performance.
Horgan and Jennings have been pretty good, and Matt Williams is very astute also, I've found the TV3 panels quite good overall lately.
I'm coming around to liking Eddie O'SUllivan lately too, I think he's found the right balance lately in his analysis between constructive criticism and picking out examples of positive play.

I really enjoy the Left Wing podcasts with Luke Fitzgerald. They're usually pretty insightful.

mfceiling · 15-02-2018 11:12am

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I love how he calls this piece of magic. One of the few times ever that he showed bias for a try. As good as the try itself

Bonus points if you can identify his trainee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQvBcPgq8q4

A young Eddie Butler?

Professor Moriarty · 15-02-2018 11:16am

mfceiling wrote: »

A young Eddie Butler?

Fine kick through by an 8 (Emyr Lewis).

siblers · 15-02-2018 11:16am

thomond2006 wrote: »

Neil Francis

I used to Listen to him on The Last Word, Jesus Christ.. He is so pessimistic and miserable and dreary and monotone. He has good knowledge but his whole persona is just so glum

It took me a while to warm to BOD, think he tried a bit too hard initially to try to stand out by being a bit too critical or else too protective of his former team mates but find him a lot more balanced now.

Also think Shane Horgan is quite good so far for TV3. Pretty intelligent guy

Professor Moriarty · 15-02-2018 11:20am

*Inserts gumshield, puts on helmet*. I miss Hook.

thomond2006 · 15-02-2018 11:29am

siblers wrote: »

I used to Listen to him on The Last Word, Jesus Christ.. He is so pessimistic and miserable and dreary and monotone. He has good knowledge but his whole persona is just so glum

This is what is great about him.

ectoraige · 15-02-2018 11:34am

Professor Moriarty wrote: »

*Inserts gumshield, puts on helmet*. I miss Hook.

*calls for head injury assessment*

thomond2006 · 15-02-2018 11:41am

ectoraige wrote: »

*calls for head injury assessment*

Nah looks like a knee injury.

awec · 15-02-2018 12:25pm

Losty Dublin wrote: »

I love how he calls this piece of magic. One of the few times ever that he showed bias for a try. As good as the try itself

Bonus points if you can identify his trainee

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQvBcPgq8q4

Anyone else think players in these "vintage" videos always look really old compared to players today?

prawnsambo · 15-02-2018 1:10pm

awec wrote: »

Anyone else think players in these "vintage" videos always look really old compared to players today?

Just the grainy picture I suspect. Ieuan Evans was 29 in that game I think.

Jack Kanoff · 15-02-2018 1:11pm

awec wrote: »

Anyone else think players in these "vintage" videos always look really old compared to players today?

The manly handshakes... No jumping on players and kissing

ButtersSuki · 15-02-2018 1:15pm

Jack Kanoff wrote: »

I think for proper, unbiased and impartial commentary by someone who truly knows his onions ... You can't look any further than Frankie Sheehan.

:pac:

Post of the decade! We can close the thread now.:pac::pac:

prawnsambo · 15-02-2018 1:23pm

ButtersSuki wrote: »

Post of the decade! We can close the thread now.:pac::pac:

Speaking of hookers doing commentary, there used to be a joke doing the rounds about a Japanese soldier who's discovered on a remote pacific island long after the war has ended. The Japanese soldier is obviously out of touch with what's happened in the world in the intervening time, so he asks the usual questions of his rescuers (I've shortened it somewhat):

JS: Did we win the war?
R: No, the allies won. Japan surrendered.
JS: Who is the US President?
R: Bill Clinton (it's an old joke

)
JS: Is Shane Byrne still playing for Leinster?

Shane Byrne seems to be now taking up the role of the Japanese soldier. "When was that law changed?"

Henry Ford III · 15-02-2018 1:32pm

Mark Robson is an acquired taste. I still haven't managed.

irishbucsfan · 15-02-2018 1:47pm

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Mark Robson is an acquired taste. I still haven't managed.

In the same way that cat **** is an acquired taste?!

baas baa · 15-02-2018 2:02pm

I really don't like this recent fad of having 3 people in the commentary box.

errlloyd · 15-02-2018 2:05pm

This is slightly off topic.

But can someone please make a podcast that isn't just "three lads, rugby banter".

80% of every rugby podcast is rambling, boring, or actually silence. Editing, podcasts need editing. Ask smart questions, if you get **** answers cut them. If you get good answers keep them. Unless your podcast is live you have no excuse.

15-02-2018 3:04pm

Luke spends too much time asking questions/statements before he allows the interviewee respond. Most of the podcast is about him. BTs talk about videos we the listener can’t see. Sorry back on topic.

RoG is too boring in his delivery. Shane used to be inciteful but now seems to be slipping in to the one that says the argumentative pundit that says somewhat controversial thinks to draw viewers and get the public talking ala Hook/Dunphy.

Henry Ford III · 15-02-2018 3:31pm

Luke's ears are offputting. They are too far down his neck.

It's like his head is trying to tune in Saorview or something.

Dog Botherer · 15-02-2018 4:57pm

errlloyd wrote: »

This is slightly off topic.

But can someone please make a podcast that isn't just "three lads, rugby banter".

80% of every rugby podcast is rambling, boring, or actually silence. Editing, podcasts need editing. Ask smart questions, if you get **** answers cut them. If you get good answers keep them. Unless your podcast is live you have no excuse.

I remember a Blood & Mud Podcast episode a while back where they spent a few minutes discussing the punishment for irritating phrases in the modern game.

I think they settled on "banter = losing a finger"

Neil3030 · 15-02-2018 6:00pm

Dog Botherer wrote: »

I remember a Blood & Mud Podcast episode a while back where they spent a few minutes discussing the punishment for irritating phrases in the modern game.

I think they settled on "banter = losing a finger"

Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown loved the bants.

Flincher · 16-02-2018 2:08am

I've enjoyed Sam Warburton and Paul O'Connell over the first 2 rounds of the Six Nations. They're both good at pointing out smaller details that wouldn't be obvious to viewers (especially around the lineout from Paulie). With a fair bit of analysis being lowest common denominator stuff, it's great to have something technical explained from time to time.

The only reason I don't turn off the TV when I hear Reggie Corrigan's voice is in case I miss hearing him getting electrocuted. Aside from the O'Mahony fiasco, I remember him giving Man of the Match to Marius Joubert on a day Munster put 40 odd points on Clermont in Thomond.

thomond2006 · 16-02-2018 9:48am

Any player agents commentating or analysing games involving their clients is an automatic no-no for me.

iamjenko · 16-02-2018 4:01pm

errlloyd wrote: »

This is slightly off topic.

But can someone please make a podcast that isn't just "three lads, rugby banter".

80% of every rugby podcast is rambling, boring, or actually silence. Editing, podcasts need editing. Ask smart questions, if you get **** answers cut them. If you get good answers keep them. Unless your podcast is live you have no excuse.

The Eggchasers podcast is decent, fairly Premiership-centric though

razorblunt · 17-02-2018 6:31pm

Sky are very poor, some much deadweight in their coverage, Harris, Robson, Quinlan, Barnes and Quinnell are all charicatures nowadays.
They still have Morris around too for some reason.
I like the commentator Jonnie Hammond though, covers the less important Nd Championhsip game but has a real infectious enthusiasm for the game.

BT mix good and bad. Monye never really makes sense and the bants bants bants between Healey, Kay and Mullins is just nauseating.

POC, Warburton are good and I really enjoy Flatman. Presenter wise the young guy on Sky clearly knows the game too.

baas baa · 17-02-2018 6:54pm

razorblunt wrote: »

Sky are very poor, some much deadweight in their coverage, Harris, Robson, Quinlan, Barnes and Quinnell are all charicatures nowadays.
They still have Morris around too for some reason.
I like the commentator Jonnie Hammond though, covers the less important Nd Championhsip game but has a real infectious enthusiasm for the game.

BT mix good and bad. Monye never really makes sense and the bants bants bants between Healey, Kay and Mullins is just nauseating.

POC, Warburton are good and I really enjoy Flatman. Presenter wise the young guy on Sky clearly knows the game too.

Flatman can be good and talks a lot of sense but he’s too cynical for me. A lotdepends on who he’s paired with, doesn’t work well as part of 3 either. Thought he came across as arrogant and dismissive on the Italy game on ITV.

razorblunt · 18-02-2018 12:48am

baas baa wrote: »

Flatman can be good and talks a lot of sense but he’s too cynical for me. A lotdepends on who he’s paired with, doesn’t work well as part of 3 either. Thought he came across as arrogant and dismissive on the Italy game on ITV.

What did he say during Italy? I can’t remember anything too untoward, he had a few quips about England that i think Darcy pulled him up on it.

I also forgot to mention Inverdale, but he goes without saying as being awful.

Professor Moriarty · 18-02-2018 9:28am

Eddie Butler and Brian Moore are always worth listening to not least because of the needle between them sometimes.

bilston · 18-02-2018 12:36pm

Andrew Cotter is very good commentator but because of the BBC's lack of rugby these days he is probably better known for his Golf comentaries, but then the BBC doesn't have much Golf either!

Chris Paterson is a good co commentator, but again he is only rolled out for Scotland matches on the BBC which ate pretty rare.

I like BT's European rugby highlights show with BOD and Dallaglio. Like many others I think BOD is much better as a studio analyst than as a co commentator.

As already mentioned POC and Warburton have been very good on the BBC this 6Ns. However one still has years left as a player and the other clearly has coaching ambitions, so don't get too used to them!

chupacabra · 18-02-2018 3:07pm

I actually enjoy Fitzgeralds commentary, I dont see the blatant bias from him described in the OP. Shane Horgan is another good colour guy.

For me there's no beating Hugh Bladen though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOnl_zUs8RU

chupacabra · 18-02-2018 3:09pm

errlloyd wrote: »

This is slightly off topic.

But can someone please make a podcast that isn't just "three lads, rugby banter".

80% of every rugby podcast is rambling, boring, or actually silence. Editing, podcasts need editing. Ask smart questions, if you get **** answers cut them. If you get good answers keep them. Unless your podcast is live you have no excuse.

What ever happened to Ruggamatrix. I see their site is currently "suspended".

I miss the podcast that some on this forum were involved in (my own drunken appearances not withstanding). Pity it was stopped.

prawnsambo · 17-04-2020 8:22am

chupacabra wrote: »

I actually enjoy Fitzgeralds commentary, I dont see the blatant bias from him described in the OP. Shane Horgan is another good colour guy.

For me there's no beating Hugh Bladen though.

Speaking of Andrew Cotter, he's taken to commentating on his dogs...

thomond2006 · 17-04-2020 11:13am

Ruggamatrix seemed to overextend itself with content, they launched USA and Oz club rugby shows. It's no longer around at all sadly. The archive is still up. I'm listening back to a podcast from 2009, Les Kiss was a regular contributor around the time of the Grand Slam.

https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/ruggamatrix-international

Modern Television Pundits/Commentators

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