One area where the NZ rugby fan is exceedingly short-changed is Sky TVs so-called “experts” panel whose job is to provide comments and analysis on each RWC game, or so it should be. The threesome Sky Sports NZ had in their studio for both semi-finals offered next to nothing of good, well-articulated in-depth analysis of what we were witnessing – at half time – and what had just transpired – at fulltime
The three of them, led by ex ABs Israel Dagg, appear to be cloned from the same school as Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina, which means we, the viewer, will miss out on clever insight into what happened. Why? Because none of these people go deep into the reasons why, for example, one front row is getting the better of the other, or why some bomb-kicks to certain wingers are more successful, or where precisely, is one team winning the collisions and why? Examples of commentator value-add, including excellent referee interpretations, used to be provided by Justin Marshall, but we, the NZ fan, always lacked for good post-match analysis. Now we get neither. Instead, these poorly-trained talking heads will spend most of their time on platitudes, banal comments and cliches leaving the thinking rugby fan wondering why they bother listening to such inane people, even if they are well-meaning.
By comparison, UKTV’s ITV1+ offers just the very insight rugby fans like me crave. It helps to have genuine and articulate rugby nous on the panel. For example, the panel offering comment on SF1, AG vs NZ, comprised an anchor who didn’t attempt to hog the limelight, and guest commentators: Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian O’Driscoll and George Gregan in the studio and Lawrence Dallaglio, and Maggie Alphonsi on the pitch. For SF2, SA vs EN, the same unobtrusive anchor hosted Sir Clive Woodward, Bryan Habana and Jonny Wilkinson, whilst track-side comments came from the likes of Sam Warburton and Jamie Roberts.
I watch ITV1+ for all RWC games and flick over to Sky Sports One when the ads are on. I see enough to know just how lucky I am to be able to source ITV1+. Cmon Sky Sports NZ, surely it is time you revamped your rugby broadcast and analysis into the current century! And don’t even start me on “The Breakdown”!!!
As a kiwi and avid ABs fan, I watched both semi-finals and have to say that SF2, due to it being a genuine contest, had me on the edge of my seat, SF1 did not. England, a team beaten by France by 50-odd at Twickenham in this year's six-nations, only had one hope: play to the conditions and make it as risk-free as possible. Given the limitations of their team, their tactics were spot on. They put the Boks under genuine pressure. Was it nice to watch? Apart from high-brow Kiwis, who cares? England was playing in a sudden-death knock-out game. They came with a plan best suited to them and the prevailing conditions and by and large, it worked. That some commentators south of the equator labeled it boring is totally irrelevant. England very nearly pulled it off. Credit to them and to SA for coming back at the finish. It was a genuine contest played in miserable conditions.
C'mon Kiwis, get off your self-righteous pedestal.
I live in NSW, Australia, so I get a very biased coverage of sport. The Constellation Cup only got FTA news coverage for the two games they won, Australia will top the table at the CWC, no news at ALL about Webster's extension, and apparently the RWC ended with Eddie's homecoming 'press conference' at Cogee Oval. You can keep up with the reality, if you follow enough web sites and have enough streaming services.
Your comment about the importance of international league made me laugh though. I was watching a game of the 'AusPac Tournament' (I think thats the name) between Fiji and The Cook Islands.
How can I assure the para breaks I insert into my comments are carried over to the final text? When reading my comments after posting, they appear as excessive wordage, presented as one continuous hard-to-read visual assault. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks. David
I liked Jonathan Liew’s piece, especially the sport as anti-spectacle and this quote “This may well have been the first World Cup game with a negative ball‑in‑play time.” It certainly seemed like it, but then I think I zoned out part way through the second half.
V much looking forward to the cricket midweek newsletter. Amongst everything else, the WBBL has started - the spectacular efforts of Grace Harris, broken bat and all was quite something. Worth a look at the six which finally finished off the bat, if nothing else. Brilliant stuff, even if some of the games have been rather lopsided. And our Sophie did alright first up.
Re Greg Hay. How many opening batsmen average over 40 in first class cricket in NZ and don't get a go for the Black Caps? When you think of some of the players that got a decent run in the 90s and early 2000s he's pretty unlucky really. What do you think is the reason he never got a go? That he played for Nelson and CD?
One area where the NZ rugby fan is exceedingly short-changed is Sky TVs so-called “experts” panel whose job is to provide comments and analysis on each RWC game, or so it should be. The threesome Sky Sports NZ had in their studio for both semi-finals offered next to nothing of good, well-articulated in-depth analysis of what we were witnessing – at half time – and what had just transpired – at fulltime
The three of them, led by ex ABs Israel Dagg, appear to be cloned from the same school as Jeff Wilson and Mils Muliaina, which means we, the viewer, will miss out on clever insight into what happened. Why? Because none of these people go deep into the reasons why, for example, one front row is getting the better of the other, or why some bomb-kicks to certain wingers are more successful, or where precisely, is one team winning the collisions and why? Examples of commentator value-add, including excellent referee interpretations, used to be provided by Justin Marshall, but we, the NZ fan, always lacked for good post-match analysis. Now we get neither. Instead, these poorly-trained talking heads will spend most of their time on platitudes, banal comments and cliches leaving the thinking rugby fan wondering why they bother listening to such inane people, even if they are well-meaning.
By comparison, UKTV’s ITV1+ offers just the very insight rugby fans like me crave. It helps to have genuine and articulate rugby nous on the panel. For example, the panel offering comment on SF1, AG vs NZ, comprised an anchor who didn’t attempt to hog the limelight, and guest commentators: Sean Fitzpatrick, Brian O’Driscoll and George Gregan in the studio and Lawrence Dallaglio, and Maggie Alphonsi on the pitch. For SF2, SA vs EN, the same unobtrusive anchor hosted Sir Clive Woodward, Bryan Habana and Jonny Wilkinson, whilst track-side comments came from the likes of Sam Warburton and Jamie Roberts.
I watch ITV1+ for all RWC games and flick over to Sky Sports One when the ads are on. I see enough to know just how lucky I am to be able to source ITV1+. Cmon Sky Sports NZ, surely it is time you revamped your rugby broadcast and analysis into the current century! And don’t even start me on “The Breakdown”!!!
100% agree. There's a time for humour and a Sports Cafe type approach, but there's also time for in depth analysis and journalism not jingoism.
There's a tendency in NZ to try to appeal to the lowest common denominator.
As a kiwi and avid ABs fan, I watched both semi-finals and have to say that SF2, due to it being a genuine contest, had me on the edge of my seat, SF1 did not. England, a team beaten by France by 50-odd at Twickenham in this year's six-nations, only had one hope: play to the conditions and make it as risk-free as possible. Given the limitations of their team, their tactics were spot on. They put the Boks under genuine pressure. Was it nice to watch? Apart from high-brow Kiwis, who cares? England was playing in a sudden-death knock-out game. They came with a plan best suited to them and the prevailing conditions and by and large, it worked. That some commentators south of the equator labeled it boring is totally irrelevant. England very nearly pulled it off. Credit to them and to SA for coming back at the finish. It was a genuine contest played in miserable conditions.
C'mon Kiwis, get off your self-righteous pedestal.
I live in NSW, Australia, so I get a very biased coverage of sport. The Constellation Cup only got FTA news coverage for the two games they won, Australia will top the table at the CWC, no news at ALL about Webster's extension, and apparently the RWC ended with Eddie's homecoming 'press conference' at Cogee Oval. You can keep up with the reality, if you follow enough web sites and have enough streaming services.
Your comment about the importance of international league made me laugh though. I was watching a game of the 'AusPac Tournament' (I think thats the name) between Fiji and The Cook Islands.
Fijian RL internationals get to play in PNG.
Fijian RU internationals get to play in France.
Hello Dylan,
How can I assure the para breaks I insert into my comments are carried over to the final text? When reading my comments after posting, they appear as excessive wordage, presented as one continuous hard-to-read visual assault. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks. David
I liked Jonathan Liew’s piece, especially the sport as anti-spectacle and this quote “This may well have been the first World Cup game with a negative ball‑in‑play time.” It certainly seemed like it, but then I think I zoned out part way through the second half.
V much looking forward to the cricket midweek newsletter. Amongst everything else, the WBBL has started - the spectacular efforts of Grace Harris, broken bat and all was quite something. Worth a look at the six which finally finished off the bat, if nothing else. Brilliant stuff, even if some of the games have been rather lopsided. And our Sophie did alright first up.
Re Greg Hay. How many opening batsmen average over 40 in first class cricket in NZ and don't get a go for the Black Caps? When you think of some of the players that got a decent run in the 90s and early 2000s he's pretty unlucky really. What do you think is the reason he never got a go? That he played for Nelson and CD?