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    Rugby Commentators/Presenters

    Sports Talk
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    • Crucial
      Crucial last edited by Duluth

      Listening to our main game callers over the weekend highlighted an area of concern that as been coming for some time IMO.
      Nisbo is heading down the slippery slide that Keith Quinn did. The errors are getting more and more, he is struggling to keep up and comes out with some clangers that make you picture that he is calling the game from in front of a black and white TV while in his robe and slippers and waiting for his boiled egg.
      TJ is not the heir apparent. Way too much of an excited fanboy and after god knows how many decades calling games of rugby still makes statements about the laws that are plain wrong. Not interpretations or current ways of ruling but absolute basic laws of the game like telling the audience that a ref must see downward pressure from a ball carrier to award a try. Not true TJ. Never has been.

      Anyway, examples aside, who is coming through to be our 'senior' caller? The one that just calls the action, gets the players names right and conveys to viewers what is happening? At the moment we have someone who used to be very good at that but is akin to Biden and one that is technically OK but instead of becoming more 'senior' sounds more and more like an excited schoolboy.

      Does anyone know the other options? All of our current 'others' are there for 'colour' or 'analysis'.

      NB: I didn't mention Laban but seriously? Decent bloke and competent commentator but still seems to think he is watching league.

      Smudge 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • Bovidae
        Bovidae last edited by Bovidae

        Jeff McTainsh is probably the guy Sky needs to use more. Maybe Nigel Yalden does more TV commentary.

        I'll add that a lot of the former players used in supporting roles are terrible too.

        ACT Crusader 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
        • MajorRage
          MajorRage last edited by

          Not a popular opinion on here but I think Willy Lose has been excellent when I’ve heard him

          Duluth 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • MN5
            MN5 last edited by

            Bring back Mex

            G 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • G
              Gunner @MN5 last edited by

              @mn5 said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

              Bring back Mex

              And all the psychic energy that comes with him?

              MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
              • MN5
                MN5 @Gunner last edited by

                @gunner said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                @mn5 said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                Bring back Mex

                And all the psychic energy that comes with him?

                There’s a whole new generation of players for him to pump as well.

                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                • Smudge
                  Smudge @Crucial last edited by

                  @crucial said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                  Listening to our main game callers over the weekend highlighted an area of concern that as been coming for some time IMO.
                  Nisbo is heading down the slippery slide that Keith Quinn did. The errors are getting more and more, he is struggling to keep up and comes out with some clangers that make you picture that he is calling the game from in front of a black and white TV while in his robe and slippers and waiting for his boiled egg.
                  TJ is not the heir apparent. Way too much of an excited fanboy and after god knows how many decades calling games of rugby still makes statements about the laws that are plain wrong. Not interpretations or current ways of ruling but absolute basic laws of the game like telling the audience that a ref must see downward pressure from a ball carrier to award a try. Not true TJ. Never has been.

                  Anyway, examples aside, who is coming through to be our 'senior' caller? The one that just calls the action, gets the players names right and conveys to viewers what is happening? At the moment we have someone who used to be very good at that but is akin to Biden and one that is technically OK but instead of becoming more 'senior' sounds more and more like an excited schoolboy.

                  Does anyone know the other options? All of our current 'others' are there for 'colour' or 'analysis'.

                  NB: I didn't mention Laban but seriously? Decent bloke and competent commentator but still seems to think he is watching league.

                  The excessive screaming is the thing that really annoys me about TJ.

                  Tom Bartlett has been good at the basics as a play-by-play caller at Mitre 10 Cup level. Need to try some of these guys at Super Rugby level.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                  • MN5
                    MN5 last edited by

                    Years of Nisbo’s dreary blandness was tolerable at best when he was accurate, now he is constantly making mistake and not keeping up it means his position as commentator is pretty untenable overall in my opinion.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                    • Crazy Horse
                      Crazy Horse last edited by

                      There are two certainties on any thread about rugby matches - useless refs and useless commentators. I don't think it matters who commentates. We will still find something to complain about.

                      Snowy 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                      • Snowy
                        Snowy @Crazy Horse last edited by

                        @crazy-horse said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                        There are two certainties on any thread about rugby matches - useless refs and useless commentators. I don't think it matters who commentates. We will still find something to complain about.

                        And we still watch, and still listen, and still whinge.

                        Love rugby.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                        • Kiwiwomble
                          Kiwiwomble last edited by

                          when in the UK and watching football i use to enjoy flicking over to the "fans commentary", where they'd pick out a fan from each team as they entered the ground and stick them in a commentary box together...greatness ensued, no idea if they still do it

                          Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                          • Bovidae
                            Bovidae @Kiwiwomble last edited by Bovidae

                            @kiwiwomble I switched over to the alternative commentary for the 2nd half of the Crusaders-Chiefs game with James McOnie and Matt Heath. Very funny if you like Sports Cafe-type humour with all the nicknames they were making up for the players. For example, Bryn Hall and Oates.

                            https://www.theaccnz.com/the-accs-champagne-super-rugby/

                            MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • MN5
                              MN5 @Bovidae last edited by MN5

                              @bovidae said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                              @kiwiwomble I switched over to the alternative commentary for the 2nd half of the Crusaders-Chiefs game with James McOnie and Matt Heath. Very funny if you like Sports Cafe-type humour with all the nicknames they were making up for the players. For example, Bryn Hall and Oates.

                              That’s pretty juvenile, it’s sport, it needs to be taken seriously. I can’t go for that.

                              Crucial 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 9
                              • Frank
                                Frank last edited by Frank

                                Not exactly recommending Ben for the top spot but I liked this video and thought I'd put it here.
                                I went to school with him in Gisborne.
                                Extremely gifted at English and a real oddball in a harmless way.

                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                • Crucial
                                  Crucial @MN5 last edited by

                                  @mn5 said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                  @bovidae said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                  @kiwiwomble I switched over to the alternative commentary for the 2nd half of the Crusaders-Chiefs game with James McOnie and Matt Heath. Very funny if you like Sports Cafe-type humour with all the nicknames they were making up for the players. For example, Bryn Hall and Oates.

                                  That’s pretty juvenile, it’s sport, it needs to be taken seriously. I can’t go for that.

                                  Say it isn't so!

                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                  • Duluth
                                    Duluth @MajorRage last edited by Duluth

                                    @majorrage said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                    Not a popular opinion on here but I think Willy Lose has been excellent when I’ve heard him

                                    I enjoy his commentary. He's better at being the play by play than the colour commentator. Less time to think perhaps.
                                    He does have a bad habit (like Sumo did) of having pre prepared lines

                                    He does sound like he enjoys watching the rugby which is important.

                                    The main Sky rugby commentators do not sound like they enjoy watching the game (well TJ enjoys watching a couple of teams..)
                                    They don't have to be cheerleaders but the constant whining about the same topics can make listening a chore (yes I do switch to the refs mic often)

                                    Save the whining about rules, refs etc to the analysis shows during the week. Particularly given TJ/Nisbitt/Marshall constantly whine about the same thing each game. The same points over and over and over

                                    The lower level NPC commentators, school rugby commentators, Japan Top League, Sean Maloney in Aus commentate the game in front of them and generally sound like they are having fun.

                                    booboo 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 8
                                    • booboo
                                      booboo @Duluth last edited by

                                      @duluth said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                      @majorrage said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                      Not a popular opinion on here but I think Willy Lose has been excellent when I’ve heard him

                                      I enjoy his commentary. He's better at being the play by play than the colour commentator. Less time to think perhaps.

                                      Almost word for word what I was about to post.

                                      Don't mind Rikki Swannell too much.

                                      Victor Meldrew 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                      • P
                                        ploughboy last edited by

                                        used to get all pissed off with commentaters but eventually worked out it gained nothing so have spent last few years just watching and enjoying the rugby. well not quite the truth am still known to tell justin marshell to shut up and fuck off

                                        nzzp 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                                        • nzzp
                                          nzzp @ploughboy last edited by

                                          @ploughboy said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                          used to get all pissed off with commentaters but eventually worked out it gained nothing so have spent last few years just watching and enjoying the rugby. well not quite the truth am still known to tell justin marshell to shut up and fuck off

                                          'confidently incorrect' is our Justin

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                                          • MN5
                                            MN5 last edited by

                                            C006E771-1D23-4319-A11B-62C65D8E8D2E.jpeg

                                            nzzp 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 10
                                            • MN5
                                              MN5 last edited by

                                              F998693D-0044-433A-9978-6A85BD86ADF7.jpeg

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                              • MN5
                                                MN5 last edited by

                                                8081E545-8068-4080-8871-91C9EAF67872.jpeg

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                • Kirwan
                                                  Kirwan last edited by

                                                  Whoever the guy was for the Blues v Clan game was a good commentator. Sounded like he enjoyed the game and got excited for either team doing something good.

                                                  TJ’s hate of anything Auckland based should preclude him from calling those games. Let him have Tasman and the Crusader games and give us a fucking break.

                                                  Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                                  • nzzp
                                                    nzzp @MN5 last edited by

                                                    @mn5 twice on the same quote!

                                                    Of everything he's done, that's low end. It's the lack of rugby law knowledge that really grinds my gears, and missing what's in front of him

                                                    MN5 Kiwiwomble Bones 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                                    • MN5
                                                      MN5 @nzzp last edited by

                                                      @nzzp said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                      @mn5 twice on the same quote!

                                                      Of everything he's done, that's low end. It's the lack of rugby law knowledge that really grinds my gears, and missing what's in front of him

                                                      It’s a great quote, it needs to be given it’s dues

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                      • Kiwiwomble
                                                        Kiwiwomble @nzzp last edited by

                                                        @nzzp said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                        @mn5 twice on the same quote!

                                                        Of everything he's done, that's low end. It's the lack of rugby law knowledge that really grinds my gears, and missing what's in front of him

                                                        combined with stating everything like he's an expert

                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                        • Bovidae
                                                          Bovidae @Kirwan last edited by

                                                          @kirwan said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                          Whoever the guy was for the Blues v Clan game was a good commentator. Sounded like he enjoyed the game and got excited for either team doing something good.

                                                          IIRC that was the commentator I mentioned, Jeff McTainsh.

                                                          TJ’s hate of anything Auckland based should preclude him from calling those games.

                                                          Who was TJ supporting on Sat night? I haven't watched a replay yet.

                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                          • Bones
                                                            Bones @nzzp last edited by

                                                            @nzzp said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                            @mn5 twice on the same quote!

                                                            Of everything he's done, that's low end. It's the lack of rugby law knowledge that really grinds my gears, and missing what's in front of him

                                                            I was pretty floored in the weekend when he apologised for talking over the ref. Then kept talking over him. Him and nisbo in the weekend were about the worst I've heard both of them, constant errors, predicting plays that didn't happen. TJ's "must have a hand pressing down on the ball" was pretty bizarre.

                                                            I think McTanish must be the guy I heard a but of for NPC? He seems great.

                                                            MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                            • MN5
                                                              MN5 @Bones last edited by

                                                              @bones said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                              @nzzp said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                              @mn5 twice on the same quote!

                                                              Of everything he's done, that's low end. It's the lack of rugby law knowledge that really grinds my gears, and missing what's in front of him

                                                              I was pretty floored in the weekend when he apologised for talking over the ref. Then kept talking over him. Him and nisbo in the weekend were about the worst I've heard both of them, constant errors, predicting plays that didn't happen. TJ's "must have a hand pressing down on the ball" was pretty bizarre.

                                                              I think McTanish must be the guy I heard a but of for NPC? He seems great.

                                                              Possibly relatively speaking, commentators tend not to improve with advanced age

                                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                              • Victor Meldrew
                                                                Victor Meldrew @booboo last edited by

                                                                @booboo said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                Don't mind Rikki Swannell too much.

                                                                I think she's really good. Accurate and conveys match excitement without getting emotional.

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 7
                                                                • Billy Tell
                                                                  Billy Tell last edited by

                                                                  Still like Nisbo. Far and away my favourite commentator.

                                                                  Bones sparky 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                  • Bones
                                                                    Bones @Billy Tell last edited by

                                                                    @billy-tell said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                    Still like Nisbo. Far and away my favourite commentator.

                                                                    Yeah the big match feel ya get when you hear his voice is hard to replace eh. He's been making those mix up errors for decades (for some reason I always remember a So'oialo)Conrad swap) but he was pretty bad this weekend, a couple of times players went without names after a slightly drawn out pause.

                                                                    canefan 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                    • canefan
                                                                      canefan @Bones last edited by

                                                                      @bones said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                      @billy-tell said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                      Still like Nisbo. Far and away my favourite commentator.

                                                                      Yeah the big match feel ya get when you hear his voice is hard to replace eh. He's been making those mix up errors for decades (for some reason I always remember a So'oialo)Conrad swap) but he was pretty bad this weekend, a couple of times players went without names after a slightly drawn out pause.

                                                                      I guess the mixups are all part of the package. A bit like peak Keith Quinn, and even Mex

                                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                      • Bovidae
                                                                        Bovidae last edited by

                                                                        Hames mentioned a player who wasn't even on the field, or currently playing in this century, so is one-up on Nisbett.

                                                                        The thing is that the commentators rely on a TV screen much smaller than we watch the rugby on ourselves. I've seen their setup for 1st XV games up close.

                                                                        Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                        • Bones
                                                                          Bones @Bovidae last edited by

                                                                          @bovidae said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                          Hames mentioned a player who wasn't even on the field, or currently playing in this century, so is one-up on Nisbett.

                                                                          The thing is that the commentators rely on a TV screen much smaller than we watch the rugby on ourselves. I've seen their setup for 1st XV games up close.

                                                                          I find Hames really hot and cold eh. Mostly cold unfortunately.

                                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                                                                          • Yeetyaah
                                                                            Yeetyaah last edited by

                                                                            Hames makes some outrageous claims at times.

                                                                            Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                            • taniwharugby
                                                                              taniwharugby last edited by taniwharugby

                                                                              I think some of the comms people are very good game analysts, but shit at commentating.

                                                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                              • Bovidae
                                                                                Bovidae @Yeetyaah last edited by

                                                                                @yeetyaah said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                                Hames makes some outrageous claims at times.

                                                                                Hames is often critical of referees' decisions, which is surprising as he is a ref himself. No idea if he is any good though.

                                                                                P 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                                • Bones
                                                                                  Bones last edited by

                                                                                  Well I'm now firmly on board the Beaver Bandwagon.

                                                                                  Screenshot_20210331-110201.jpg

                                                                                  MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                                                  • sparky
                                                                                    sparky @Billy Tell last edited by sparky

                                                                                    @billy-tell said in NZ Rugby Commentators:

                                                                                    Still like Nisbo. Far and away my favourite commentator.

                                                                                    Nisbo still the man IMHO. Agree Rikki Swannell the best of the next generation. Not sold on TJ or Meg though.

                                                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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