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Sports Commentators (non-football) (Part 2)
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coventrywooo
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by Alex2606:
“John Inverdale confirmed at ITV's World Cup host,

http://www.itv.com/rugbyworldcup/itv...ugby-world-cup

No confirmation in the release of any commentators, just pundits”

good start, good pundits, i guess ITV will try and get Miles Harrison and S Barnes this year as its in the UK, so Sky might loan them to ITV...
nicktrow
22-03-2015
Whoops, looks like the story has been removed. Any chance you could remember some of the pundits?

EDIT: I saw elsewhere Gareth Thomas and Brian O'Driscoll mentioned, but that story has now also just been removed.
OMc
22-03-2015
LV Cup Rugby - Sunday 22 March (Sky Sports 4)

Final - Saracens v Exeter Chiefs

James Gemmell at Franklin's Gardens with Kyran Bracken and ???.

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond, Pat Sanderson & Dewi Morris

Reporter: Bill Latham
chrisr21
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by coventrywooo:
“good start, good pundits, i guess ITV will try and get Miles Harrison and S Barnes this year as its in the UK, so Sky might loan them to ITV...”

Originally Posted by Alex2606:
“John Inverdale confirmed at ITV's World Cup host,

http://www.itv.com/rugbyworldcup/itv...ugby-world-cup

No confirmation in the release of any commentators, just pundits”

Originally Posted by nicktrow:
“Whoops, looks like the story has been removed. Any chance you could remember some of the pundits?

EDIT: I saw elsewhere Gareth Thomas and Brian O'Driscoll mentioned, but that story has now also just been removed.”

According to Charles Sale in the Mail ITV are taking a load of BT's people on Loan.

Craig Doyle, Sarra Elgan, Nick Mullins, Ben Kay, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian O'Driscoll & Ugo Monye were mentioned.

Googling the article you mentioned shows George Gregan's picture next to a dead link, so safe to assume he's part of the team as well.
OMc
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by chrisr21:
“According to Charles Sale in the Mail ITV are taking a load of BT's people on Loan.

Craig Doyle, Sarra Elgan, Nick Mullins, Ben Kay, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian O'Driscoll & Ugo Monye were mentioned.

Googling the article you mentioned shows George Gregan's picture next to a dead link, so safe to assume he's part of the team as well.”

https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/...9550--spt.html

According to Yahoo, Wilko, Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Sir Clive, Gregan, Gareth Thomas, BOD, McGeechan, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lynagh, Sean Fitzpatrick and David Flatman are involved.

No mention of Kay, Monye, Mullins, Elgan or Doyle, but I really hope they're all involved, at least until the Premiership starts back up.
OMc
22-03-2015
I'm expecting ITV to announce some more co-comms when they announce their main commentators, as looking through the list of pundits only Dallaglio strikes me as an experienced commentator. Flatman, BOD, Lynagh and Woodward have all done a bit, with varying levels of success, but to my knowledge none of the others have really commentated.

It may be that they will have some more of these guys commentating, but given Vickery's awful performance in 2011 and the fact that as host broadcaster their commentary, more so than their studio coverage, will be going all over the world, they should bring in some more guys.

I hope Ben Kay comes in, as he is an excellent analyst, and Ugo Monye and/or Austin Healey would be decent. They had Alan Quinlan and Michael Owen involved last time as well IIRC and they would be decent options to cover Ireland and Wales. Mullins would be a good #1 main commentator, and if they could get Eykyn and/or Cotter (with the other probably needed to hold the fort at BT when the Premiership starts back up) as a #2 they'd be in a good place with Gillingham and Ward as #3 and #4.
Alex2606
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by OMc:
“https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/...9550--spt.html

According to Yahoo, Wilko, Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Sir Clive, Gregan, Gareth Thomas, BOD, McGeechan, Francois Pienaar, Michael Lynagh, Sean Fitzpatrick and David Flatman are involved.

No mention of Kay, Monye, Mullins, Elgan or Doyle, but I really hope they're all involved, at least until the Premiership starts back up.”

From memory that pretty much sounds like all the ones who were mentioned

At a guess I would say Bayfield and Mullins would make some appearances for ITV and Eykyn would take most of the Premiership stuff for BT

Would expect there's a decent chance ITV try and pick up one of the commentators from the Southern Hemisphere nations
OMc
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by Alex2606:
“Would expect there's a decent chance ITV try and pick up one of the commentators from the Southern Hemisphere nations”

As long as it's not Owen Nkumane that's fine. If they could get some of the other SuperSport guys though (Matthew Pearce, Joel Stransky, Bob Skinstad) that would be good, as would Justin Marshall.
Alex2606
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by OMc:
“I'm expecting ITV to announce some more co-comms when they announce their main commentators, as looking through the list of pundits only Dallaglio strikes me as an experienced commentator. Flatman, BOD, Lynagh and Woodward have all done a bit, with varying levels of success, but to my knowledge none of the others have really commentated.

It may be that they will have some more of these guys commentating, but given Vickery's awful performance in 2011 and the fact that as host broadcaster their commentary, more so than their studio coverage, will be going all over the world, they should bring in some more guys.

I hope Ben Kay comes in, as he is an excellent analyst, and Ugo Monye and/or Austin Healey would be decent. They had Alan Quinlan and Michael Owen involved last time as well IIRC and they would be decent options to cover Ireland and Wales. Mullins would be a good #1 main commentator, and if they could get Eykyn and/or Cotter (with the other probably needed to hold the fort at BT when the Premiership starts back up) as a #2 they'd be in a good place with Gillingham and Ward as #3 and #4.”

The BBC connection may well rule Eykyn out, I know he's freelance now, but the higher profile link on the BBC may also put ITV off Cotter.

Gillingham is a likely contender, I would think Ward is too, unless his RFU and Twickenham commitments take up enough match days to make ITV think he's not worth it.
OMc
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by Alex2606:
“The BBC connection may well rule Eykyn out, I know he's freelance now, but the higher profile link on the BBC may also put ITV off Cotter.

Gillingham is a likely contender, I would think Ward is too, unless his RFU and Twickenham commitments take up enough match days to make ITV think he's not worth it.”

Eykyn is just 5 Live now though. I'm surprised he stopped being BBC TV's #3 as soon as he went to BT but carried on on the radio. He's joint #1 at BT though, including doing last year's Premiership final, and surely either that or the Champions Cup one this year, so I'd say he's more of a high-profile BT name than BBC TV.

I could understand not wanting Cotter, but then if they're happy to use Inverdale then why not Cotter, who at least covers rugby for other channels.
OMc
22-03-2015
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1963835

Really we should be using this thread for the RWC.
Alex2606
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by OMc:
“Eykyn is just 5 Live now though. I'm surprised he stopped being BBC TV's #3 as soon as he went to BT but carried on on the radio. He's joint #1 at BT though, including doing last year's Premiership final, and surely either that or the Champions Cup one this year, so I'd say he's more of a high-profile BT name than BBC TV.

I could understand not wanting Cotter, but then if they're happy to use Inverdale then why not Cotter, who at least covers rugby for other channels.”

Inverdale already has a link with ITV through presenting their French Open tennis coverage.

Where I'm not sure with Eykyn is if he has a specific clause in his BT contract to do with BBC Radio. I don't think he's freelance like Cotter is
pakokelso93
22-03-2015
Bob Symonds still commentating? Surely he will turn up for Wales games?!
mightymillie
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by chrisr21:
“According to Charles Sale in the Mail ITV are taking a load of BT's people on Loan.

Craig Doyle, Sarra Elgan, Nick Mullins, Ben Kay, Lawrence Dallaglio, Brian O'Driscoll & Ugo Monye were mentioned.

Googling the article you mentioned shows George Gregan's picture next to a dead link, so safe to assume he's part of the team as well.”

It's as if Sale never watches ITV's club rugby highlights which regularly feature Mullins and Kay on commentary and Monye as a pundit.
mightymillie
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by OMc:
“
It may be that they will have some more of these guys commentating, but given Vickery's awful performance in 2011 and the fact that as host broadcaster their commentary, more so than their studio coverage, will be going all over the world, they should bring in some more guys.”

I would expect there to be separate commentators for the world feed.
OMc
22-03-2015
Originally Posted by mightymillie:
“I would expect there to be separate commentators for the world feed.”

That wasn't the case last time I don't think, but I suppose it's possible using the likes of Wyn Gruffydd.
pakokelso93
22-03-2015
In 2011 - ITV had their own with the 'world feed' being basically NZ commentators Bit like 2003 - the 'world feed' was essentially Fox Sports, as ITV did take the odd world feed during that tourny.

I think 2007 'world feed' was a mix of ITV's and IRB ones (Starmer Smith and co)
Alex2606
23-03-2015
Originally Posted by pakokelso93:
“In 2011 - ITV had their own with the 'world feed' being basically NZ commentators Bit like 2003 - the 'world feed' was essentially Fox Sports, as ITV did take the odd world feed during that tourny.

I think 2007 'world feed' was a mix of ITV's and IRB ones (Starmer Smith and co)”

From memory ITV just used their own comms for 2007 with Harrison, Champion, Symonds and John Taylor doing the odd midweek game (on his own without a co-comm)

There was a separate IRB world feed with Paul Dickinson, Nigel Starmer-Smith, Martin Gillingham and Jonathan Harris-Bass
nicktrow
23-03-2015
Commentators now announced for ITV Rugby World Cup: http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press...-cup-2015-line
clever3000
23-03-2015
Just to clarify from the article

Presenters -John Inverdale, Mark Durden-Smith and Craig Doyle

Commentators - Nick Mullins, Miles Harrison, Jon Champion, Martin Gillingham and Simon Ward

Co-Commentators - Geordan Murphy, Scott Hastings, Shane Williams and Ben Kay.

Reporters - Jill Douglas, Fran Donovan, Gabriel Clarke and Martin Bayfield.

Pundits - Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Sir Clive Woodward, Brian O’Driscoll, Gareth Thomas, Sir Ian McGeechan, Francois Pienaar, Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Lynagh, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi, and David Flatman.
David_Shield
23-03-2015
Originally Posted by The Difference:
“Yes, I really enjoyed Alistair Bruce-Ball's commentary earlier. I also thought Carlo Del Fava worked really well as a co-commentator along with the ever-insightful Martyn Williams.

During the Autumn Internationals, I'd posted on here how I didn't think the two analyst commentary set-up tended to work that well, but I have to say I've changed my mind - the BBC have assembled some excellent trios in the commentary box this Six Nations.”

Yeah Alistair Bruce-Ball was excellent on Saturday (although I was enjoying how the second half was heading!)

I presume he used to do rugby in his local radio days but its strange that he has never done any rugby on 5Live, wonder if he might during the world cup if they have the rights.

Although I still miss Nigel Starmer-Smith he was an excellent commentator and I loved hearing him pop up on Six Nations Greatest Moments and Six Nations Rewind.
David_Shield
23-03-2015
Originally Posted by OMc:
“RBS Women's 6 Nations - Saturday 21 March (BBC Red Button)

Round 5 - England v France

Commentators: Sara Orchard & Catherine Spencer”

Don't forget Sonja McLaughland presented at half time and full time from her pitchside position and was joined by Sarah Hunter.

Not sure why she wasn't playing, don't think they mentioned it.
David_Shield
23-03-2015
Originally Posted by clever3000:
“Just to clarify from the article

Presenters -John Inverdale, Mark Durden-Smith and Craig Doyle

Commentators - Nick Mullins, Miles Harrison, Jon Champion, Martin Gillingham and Simon Ward

Co-Commentators - Geordan Murphy, Scott Hastings, Shane Williams and Ben Kay.

Reporters - Jill Douglas, Fran Donovan, Gabriel Clarke and Martin Bayfield.

Pundits - Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Jason Robinson, Sir Clive Woodward, Brian O’Driscoll, Gareth Thomas, Sir Ian McGeechan, Francois Pienaar, Sean Fitzpatrick, Michael Lynagh, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi, and David Flatman.”

Strong line-up, looks the best ITV have ever assembed for a world cup. Bit surpirsed by Miles Harrison and Jon Champion weren't expecting them back.

Dissapointed from a 5live point of view that John Inverdale won't be hosting their coverage if they have the rights but please Al Eykyn will be on 5live he has come on so much as a commentator since replacing Alastair Hignell.
The Difference
23-03-2015
I agree with the majority view that ITV have assembled a really strong line-up for their Rugby World Cup coverage. I think they are fortunate in the respect that as the tournament is in England and Wales, they can call upon people who will be able to run their ITV work alongside their usual media commitments without neglecting them.

Miles Harrison is a classic example - there won't be any European Rugby Champions/Challenge Cup matches taking place during the RWC, so he'll only really have English Championship games to cover for Sky Sports, which surely won't be scheduled against England or knockout phase matches - so I expect it'll be relatively straight forward for him to combine his work for both broadcasters (the same applies to Stuart Barnes and TV3).

Reporter-wise, this probably goes without saying but I imagine initially at least Martin Bayfield will be in the England camp, Jill Douglas with Scotland, Fran Donavan with Wales and Gabriel Clarke with Ireland. Although it might make sense for STV, HTV and UTV to have their own reporters embedded in the Celtic camps too, especially if Fran Donavan will present ITV Wales opt-out coverage - which I hope they do, with Bob Symonds and Michael Owen commentating for them (both of whom are conspicuous by their absence from the ITV press release).

The only pick for me who is a slightly dubious choice for me is Jon Champion - while I rate him highly as a football commentator, I didn't think he was a brilliant commentator at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and I believe that is the only time he's covered the sport before or since. I imagine that given his football commitments (he does the Football League international feed on Friday nights, Absolute Radio on Saturdays and the Premier League international feed on Sundays), his use will be limited to midweek pool games. Simon Ward might be similar due to his RFU and Talking Rugby agency commitments on England matchdays.

But a 1-2-3 of Nick Mullins, Miles Harrison and Martin Gillingham is a really strong lead commentary line-up for me.
pakokelso93
23-03-2015
Although one or two thing Champion was a bit 'lax' with I enjoyed his rugby commentaries - especially in the Georgia-Ireland game! "and Georgia lead Ireland!"

I think on most part a cracking ITV commentary line up.
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