Friday 28th November - BBC Two Wales and BBC Red Button

Scrum V Live: Cardiff Blues v Treviso

Ross Harries presenting from the Cardiff Arms Park alongside Robert Jones and Gareth Thomas, with Phil Davies in the analysis truck

Commentators: Gareth Charles and Sean Holley

Red Button commentators: Gareth Rhys Owen and Deiniol Jones (sylwebaeth yn Gymraeg)

Reporter: Phil Steele

Interesting call to have Sean Holley in the commentary box rather than in his usual role in the analysis truck. Sean's my favourite rugby union analyst, so I'll be interested to hear how he does as a co-commentator.

Aviva Premiership Rugby - Friday 28 November (BT Sport 2)

Round 9 - Bath v Harlequins

Craig Doyle presenting live from The Rec alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Francois Louw and Austin Healey.

Commentators: Nick Mullins, Lawrence Dallaglio & Austin Healey

Reporter: Martin Bayfield

International Rugby Union - Saturday 29 November (Sky Sports 2)

England v Australia

Alex Payne presenting live from Twickenham alongside Will Greenwood, Michael Lynagh, Jonny Wilkinson and Sir Clive Woodward.

Commentators: Miles Harrison & Stuart Barnes

Reporter: Graham Simmons

International Rugby Union - Saturday 29 November (BBC One)

Wales v South Africa

John Inverdale presenting live from the Millennium Stadium alongside Martyn Williams, Keith Wood and Jeremy Guscott.

Commentators: Eddie Butler, Schalk Brits & Jonathan Davies

Reporter: Sonja McLaughlan

Jonathan Davies was embarrasing. In fact It was Butler with two fanboys. Keep Davies away from the box on Wales games!!!

It was a bit like that. It's all well and good the BBC using this extra international to try different co-comms (as they seem to be doing) but today's didn't add much. At least Justin Marshall doing Wal-Aus last year was objective and is an experienced co-comm at Sky NZ, Brits and Jiffy was like a fanzone commentary with one guy who has only commentated once before and one who should never commentate again.

Dan Dawson was on darts commentary on ITV4. Why was John Rawling not commentating

Is he not covering the Boxing tonight?

Yes Rawling is commentating on the boxing for BoxNation tonight. I watched some of the darts earlier on and Dan Dawson who was deputising for Rawling on the darts is a shocking commentator. Why on earth ITV can't use someone like Gwynne is beyond me.

To add to the previous comments about the rugby although i didn't watch it today i do concur that Jonathan Davies shouldn't be allowed to commentate on a Wales match again. He has always been poor and his bias towards Wales has always been there.

Aviva Premiership Rugby - Sunday 30 November (BT Sport 2)

Craig Doyle in the studio alongside Lawrence Dallaglio and Alex Goode.

Round 8 - London Irish v Gloucester

Commentators: Nick Mullins, David Flatman & Ugo Monye

Reporter: Sarra Elgan

Round 8 - Newcastle Falcons v Sale Sharks

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Austin Healey

Reporter: Martin Bayfield

I watched the game in a South African bar at the weekend (that was fun! ) and didn't realise that Schalk Brits was in the third co-commentary role until I read about it on here! Having just watched the Scrum V Special on the iPlayer, he was barely heard in their 15 minute edit of the game. To me, this just demonstrates how the three-person commentary set-up simply isn't a good fit for the BBC's live international rugby union coverage.

The only Wales game in which I felt having two co-commentators worked this autumn was the New Zealand game, where you had a strong, decisive third man in Martyn Williams paired with Brian Moore, who I think it's fair to say encourages the opinions of those he works with. On the other games, Brits, Keith Wood and Phillip Matthews were barely noticeable (not a bad thing in the case of the latter!) and there just seemed to be little point in having them in the box - we'd have been better served if they'd have kept it to Eddie and Jonathan.

I'd be interested to know how people who watch the English Premiership on BT Sport think about the three person commentary set-up, where I know it is common place. Does it work better there?

As for Jonathan Davies, I enjoyed his co-commentary at the weekend and personally don't get the criticism he receives. I like my co-commentators to be passionate and forthright in their opinions and for me both Davies and Brian Moore are very good in this role, in contrast to Andy Nicol who I find dull and Phillip Matthews who irritates me. Both Brian and Jonathan have a strong rapport with Eddie Butler and it was great to hear him handling all four Wales games this autumn, with Andrew Cotter nowhere near the Millennium Stadium! I hope for more of the same in the Six Nations, at least outside of the Scotland game.

For those of you who don't like Jonathan Davies - who would you prefer in the commentary box to him? Martyn Williams? Shane Williams? Robert Jones? Gareth Llewellyn? Stuart Davies? Tom Shanklin? Sean Holley? Or just stuff it full of English, Scottish and Irish voices and not bother with a Welsh expert?

Saturday 29th November - S4C

Clwb Rygbi Rhyngwladol: Wales v South Africa

Gareth Roberts presented from the Millennium Stadium alongside Gareth Edwards and Ken Owens, with Dwayne Peel in the analysis truck

Commentators: Gareth Charles and Gwyn Jones

Reporter: Dot Davies, with Dafydd Jones providing pitchside analysis


Sunday 30th November - S4C

Clwb Rygbi: Glasgow Warriors v Newport Gwent Dragons

Gareth Roberts presented from the regular Scrum V Sunday studio alongside Derwyn Jones, Deiniol Jones and Dafydd Jones

Commentators: Cennydd Davies and Emyr Lewis

Red Button commentators: Andy Moore and Dafydd James (commentary in English)

Reporter: Owain Gwynedd

Generally yes, although when you have a current player as a guest co-comm it can be pretty similar. Schalk was pretty anonymous on the Sarries v Western Province friendly that BT had him on as well.

What generally happens is that the forward will do most of the punditry (which Ben Kay does very well although he can dominate a little too much sometimes, Dallaglio and Flatman less so), with the back mainly chipping in to do analysis during stoppages in play (although sometimes Austin can't help himself).


Martyn Williams has been pretty good actually, I'd like to see him take over more Wales games from Jiffy (leaving him to do the punditry job he does much better), although I do think there should be an opposition or neutral voice in there as well.

Sunday 30th November - BBC Two Wales

Scrum V: Autumn Series Special

Ross Harries presented alongside Martyn Williams, Jonathan Davies, Shane Howarth and Gareth Thomas, with Sean Holley at the Stat Pad and Richard Hibbard at the bar

Autumn Internationals
Wales v South Africa - Eddie Butler, Jonathan Davies and Schalk Brits, with Sonja McLaughlan and S4C's Dot Davies conducting post-match interviews
England v Australia - Andrew Cotter and Brian Moore, with Gabby Logan conducting post-match interviews

Guinness Pro12
Round-up of the weekend's games involving the Welsh regions and Munster v Ulster - Bethan Clement (reporting), with snippets of Gareth Charles' commentary on Cardiff Blues v Treviso

Feature on the reaction to Wales v South Africa in the newspapers and on social media - Bethan Clement

Sean Holley was back in the Scrum V Club studio for his two Stat Pad analysis features, the first of which was on the Wales v South Africa game and the second being how Wales, England and Australia compare ahead of next year's Rugby World Cup. The programme closed with another epic Eddie Butler-voiced montage on Wales' Autumn Series.

Going back to Friday's Scrum V Live coverage of the Blues v Treviso game, I didn't mention it in my post detailing their broadcast but Robert Jones joined Charlo and Sean for spells of co-commentary around his punditry duties.

Elsewhere, Gabby Logan presented BBC Three/Two's England v Australia highlights from pitchside at Twickenham alongside Lewis Moody and Mike Tindall, with commentary and post-match interview details as above.

Martyn Williams is decent enough. Davies I can cope with in the studio, or at worst on co-comm on neutral game/ other home nation v FRA/ITA. If just two man set up Butler and Davies is too Welsh heavy. I'm not saying Butler is biased but It is two 'Welsh' voices. When it's Wales v Scotland It's Cotter and Davies - one of each accents.

Davies was not commentating he was cheerleading half the time. Brits kept going "I know I'm South African but this is ________" or "I'm being a little biased here but..."

To be honest - I was through with Davies after him shouting in the background when Shane Williams scored in dying seconds v Scotland in 2010. That carry on is fine if he was on Scrum V, but it was a UK-wide broadcast. He lost the plot. My favourite co-comm/pundit is Scott Quinnell. Absolute legend!!! I love his passion. Lions wise and also domestic/European games. He is passionate, but 100% respectful and on a Wales national or club persective isn't 1% biased. That is how it's done.

Moores rants are awful. Blinkered on England too and in a different direction if Davies is pro-biased Moore is negative-biased criticising things/moaning but it's most of the time all on England. However ironically grew to enjoy him in the calmer manner of his various Talksport shifts. Although Guscott is worse English-blinkered wise and is so out of touch with anything outside of English rugby. I agree on Matthews, I wasn't too bothered on him but over past 12-18 mths he is pretty blinkered on Ireland or as a 'neutral' in these Autumn tests he is dull.

Andy Nicol or Chris Paterson aren't full on, but certinaly I find engaging! - just as someone like Nicol is more measured doesn't mean he isn't passionate. In fact his optimism is a great thing!

BBC main comms: Cotter is outstanding for me. Butler/Cotter great leading comms. #3 is a problem area. Weak since Mullins went. Even weaker now with Ekykn going. ABB and McNamara are awful. Will need to send my CV in!

Co-comms i'd have: Andy Nicol or Chris Paterson, Martyn Williams or Shane Williams, Andy Robinson or Lewis Moody, and an Irish co-comm. Maybe BOD, with BBC having tie in's with BT. I like Tyrone Howe too, and he is used far less now by Sky, they prefering Frankie Sheehan.

I don't like the 3 man comms either. Unless maybe the odd 'big' game then it shouldn't be used. I hate how UK has taken the Aussie type way of craming 3 people in the box, a reporter/analysis etc chipping in too. Sky has started doing this past year and it's lessened the quality. I still watch the games but it's not for me.

On a side note - relatively good new pundit is Rory Lawson on Sky's Pro 12 coverage - rate him a lot.

I know you won't be agreeing with me on most part, and mentioned a lot of the above before as a 'voice for Scotland' on the likes of Moore and Davies!

European Rugby Challenge Cup - Thursday 4 December (Sky Sports 1)

Round 3 - La Rochelle v Exeter Chiefs

James Gemmell in the studio alongside Stuart Barnes and Tom Johnson.

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond & Dewi Morris

European Rugby Champions Cup - Friday 5 December (BT Sport 2)

Round 3 - Montpellier v Bath

Craig Doyle presenting live from the Altrad Stadium alongside Lawrence Dallaglio, Matt Perry and Austin Healey.

Commentators: Nick Mullins, Lawrence Dallaglio & Austin Healey

Strangely no reporter tonight - Austin doing interviews.

Probably logistical more than anything, imagine they're keeping Sarra and Bayfield for tomorrow and Sunday, especially with Bayfield on other duties yesterday evening

Presumably they'll both present tomorrow and then report on the two main-channel games on Sunday with Doyle in the studio, just strange as there was a reporter on the Friday night game in Rounds 1 and 2 with them following the format of Friday night rugby in the Prem.
I can't say their presence was that missed, Austin (and not Nick Mullins as it would usually be without a reporter) did a decent job of the pre-match interviews and Craig Doyle the tunnel ones. I didn't watch the post-match analysis so if there were further interviews I couldn't tell you who did them and how well.

Where was Bayfs last night?

I don't watch RU so wouldn't know what Davies is like on commentary, but it doesn't surprise me to hear how bad he his because he is equally as shocking commentating on RL.

Bayfs was doing Crimewatch

Think the fact that they were in the south of France played the biggest part, just makes things a bit trickier, not sure there are too many flights a day from Montpellier to the UK

Bayfield presents Crimewatch... Wait? What? (I've not seen Crimewatch in years)/

That is the most random presenter appointment ever.

He's done it for a couple of years now,

He used to be a policeman back during his playing career

European Rugby Challenge Cup - Saturday 6 December (BT Sport 1)

Round 3 - Cardiff Blues v London Irish

Sarra Elgan presenting live from the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park alongside Paul Grayson and Phil Davies.

Commentators: Andrew Cotter, David Flatman & Paul Grayson

European Rugby Champions Cup - Saturday 6 December (Sky Sports 2)

Alex Payne presenting live from Thomond Park alongside Will Greenwood, Scott Quinnell and Alan Quinlan.

Round 3 - Sale Sharks v Saracens

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond & Matt Perry (who interestingly was on BT last night)

Pictures from Thomond Park went down temporarily during the first half of the build-up and Johnnie Hammond took over doing a voiceover. The interview with Mark McCall was pre-recorded and played during this period with Hammond interviewing Steve Diamond from the commentary box whilst Diamond was pitchside.

Round 3 - Benetton Treviso v Northampton Saints (red button)

Commentators: Martin Gillingham & Michael Lynagh???

Round 3 - Ospreys v Racing-Métro

Commentators: Mark Robson & Ieuan Evans

Round 3 - Munster v Clermont Auvergne

Commentators: Miles Harrison & Stuart Barnes

European Rugby Champions Cup - Saturday 6 December (BT Sport 2)

Round 3 - Ulster v Scarlets

Martin Bayfield presenting live from the Kingspan Stadium at Ravenhill alongside Brian O'Driscoll and Shaun Edwards.

Commentators: Alastair Eykyn, Ben Kay & Brian O'Driscoll

Reporter: Chris Hollins

This is a strange call from BT to put a reporter on for the 15-minute build-up to this game but not for the 45-minute build-up last night.