Worst Northern Hemisphere Commentator

First topic message reminder :

Since old Bill left us there don't seem to be any universally loved commentators, so who is the most loathed?

I left out Southern Hemisphere commentators because saying "you beauty" every time a try is scored doesn't qualify as commentary.

I don't mind having a biased pundit on the panel - in fact I quite like it as long as there's some balance. Some of the most biased are the ones I'm most fond of - and I for one couldn't imagine the 6N without the Moore/Butler Jiiffy/Guscgott double acts. I even find it entertaining to listed to Barnes and Morris - it's like reading a tabloid - it may make you roll your eyes, but at least it's funny/interesting/gives you something to whine about. The only rugby commentators/pundits I can't stand are Andy Nicol (he's just soooooo boring and has nothing of insight to add - which is probably why none of the other pundits ever seem to want to talk to him!) - and Sonia Mcgloghlan [sic]. That woman makes my blood boil. How she and Nicol have remained on the telly so long is utterly baffling to me.

She's no gabby yorath

Jenifer McLadyboy wrote:...I actually don't get the whole hate concept generally. Commentating is a really hard gig. Try it sometime. See how you do.

I'd be hopeless, but I don't think it's unreasonable to expect someone doing the job to consider how they are going to approach it. I'm not sure how much training people get before they are handed a microphone. The much-criticized Sally Gunnell once claimed the BBC gave her none:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-374122/BBC-undermined-I-quit-says-Gunnell.html

Some might have a natural flair for the job but most of us would need a lot of guidance on speaking clearly, cutting out our ums and errs, avoiding repetitive phrases, not talking over others etc. On top of those technique points, a commentator then has to think about what his role might be, and what he plans to say about the rugby. Too many talking heads look like they are just winging it.

One problem I have with Matt Dawson is when he presents Radio Five Live preview shows. They usually last an hour or two, but a lot of time is wasted with Dawson saying things like "Right, we've got ten minutes before the news, so I wonder if we've got time to talk about...no, maybe we haven't...what can we fit in? I know..." etc etc. He's telling us about his job rather than just doing it.

If an interviewee has an anecdote he wants them to share, it's not uncommon for him to ask "Do you remember when.." and then go on to tell the whole story in detail, leaving his guest no option to do anything but join in by laughing.

Incidentally, there was a best commentator thread just last month. It didn't get much of a response, but maybe that's because it was posted in the general forum.

https://www.606v2.com/t54684-best-rugby-commentator

Wasn't there an occasion a couple of years ago that showed up the difference between commentating and summarising / punditry? I think it was Andrew Cotter fell ill just before a game, leaving Jiffy to commentate the first half. From recollection he bailed out at half-time when they found a radio commentator to do it instead.

JD and Andy Nicholl

Both so biased and can only focus on their team

I.e. their team passes the ball - it is a orgasmic moment of rugby history, never to be repeated

The other team does a good play - it is all down to how their team messed up, did not line up or a million reasons why the other team actually did not special, it was just down to their own team

One commentator I really like is Scott Hastings - mainly does the 7's but is impartial, explains stuff and talks about both teams

I went off Scott Hastings when he described the decline of the Argentina rugby team as "sinking faster than the Belgrano".

He's a decent bloke, but that's a really stupid and insensitive thing to say.

I have a similar anti-Jiffy feeling from an EDF Cup game (as it then was) back in 2007. Quins had played a rescheduled Premiership match on Wednesday and faced an Ospreys team with 13 Welsh internationals in it on the Saturday. Not surprisingly, Quins fielded a team with 14 changes from the Wednesday [1].

Jiffy picked up on this and went on about how Quins weren't showing respect for the Ospreys. For the whole of the first half.

As a former player, he must have known how hard it is to play two games in 4 days, and how much the risk of injury increases if you do. But he either didn't know about the Wednesday game or chose not to raise the point in mitigation. Either way, it was both biased and unprofessional. Maybe he was playing to his audience - but I have struggled to have any respect for him since.


[1] The one player they didn't change? Robshaw, who played the full 80 in both matches.

Rotation is both good and logical?

Hmmm........................ so true.

The only thing to say in JD's favour is that he has stopped shouting "Numbers!!!!!!!!" every two minutes as if he is the only person watching to have noticed a potential overlap.

I picked Barnes. he really agitates me.

I don't mind Jiffy too much, although his exclaimations when Wales burgled victory from Scotland a few years back will live on in the memory.

Andrew Cotter is excellent however. I really don't think he gets enough credit. Impartial with a few funny comments... really good play by play commentator.