If it does come to pass that Lazenby has moved to F1, I really hope its Gemmell that takes over as number 1 for rugby union. Payne comes straight out of the Sky Sports New monotone school of presenting, whereas Gemmell actually adds to the coverage imo. Really enjoyed him this weekend on the Heineken Cup.

I Agree. I find that Alex Payne and Simon Lazenby at times can be both quite smarmy tbh.

I am intrigued that Andrew Cotter (to my knowledge BBC's number two - or thereabouts - commentator) was on Sky.

Andrew Cotter has commentated for ESPN as well so is very much a freelance.

Surprisingly Cotter isn't a BBC full time contractor.

He was with Sky for some red button games last season in the pool stages.

And because of his ESPN work, Cotter has also popped up on ITV's Aviva Premiership highlights this season - certainly for the Leicester v Harlequins match last month.

Monday 14th November - ITV4

Heineken Cup Highlights

Craig Doyle presented from Thomond Park Stadium

Harlequins v Connacht - Bob Symonds
Munster v Northampton Saints - Simon Ward
Montpellier Herault v Leinster - Bob Symonds
Glasgow Warriors v Bath - Chris Maughan (reporting)
Toulouse v Gloucester - Simon Ward
Ulster v Clermont Auvergne - Chris Maughan (reporting)

I was quite disappointed that none of the trio of wins for the Welsh regions against French Top 14 clubs were shown on tonight's highlights programme. I don't like to be too harsh to Perform though, as all six of the games they chose to show action from were close and quite exciting.

Simon Lazenby has tweeted that he'll be presenting on Saturday so it'll be interesting to see who presents tomorrow night Payne or Gemmell. If it's Gemmell it may well mean he's in line to take over should Lazenby move on.

Also I don't think it got a mention on here, but Sky have moved back to the studio format for the post-round recap programme. It's only an hour long though compared to the old version and felt slightly cramped as they tried to go through all the Heineken Cup games and the best of the Challenge Cup.

Certainly a better format than last years 'Best of the action to music' version - felt more like a rugby programme, even if they struggled to get it into an hour. (Should anyone care, it was presented by John P Davies, with Bob Casey as the studio pundit).

Thursday 17th November - Amlin Challenge Cup
Newport Gwent Dragons vs Perpignan

Presented from the studio by Alex Payne, with Ieuan Evans and Stuart Barnes. Dean Ryan and Sir Clive Woodward joined them in the studio for the pre-match show, looking at Martin Johnson's resignation and the fiasco at the RFU.

Commentators: Johnnie Hammond and Scott Quinnell

Friday 18th November - Heineken Cup

Alex Payne presenting from Franklins Gardens, Northampton, with Dean Ryan and Shaun Edwards as the guests in the studio. Will Greenwood and Scott Quinnell did some pitchside analysis before the game, and James Gemmell conducted the interviews with the coaches.

Northampton vs Scarlets (Sky Sports 2)
Commentators: Miles Harrison and Stuart Barnes
3D Commentators: Mark Robson and Michael Lynagh

Cardiff vs London Irish (Red Button)
Commentators: Bob Symonds and Pat Sanderson

(S4C) Gareth Roberts hosting with Gwyn Jones as analyst. Commentary from Wyn Gruffydd and Jonathan Davies, with Rhodri-Gomer Davies player interviewer (although S4C's captions kept referring him as Rhodri Gomer)

Poor from Sky not to have any post match analysis tonight after the rugby. The show should have finished at 10.30pm with a more in-depth round up all tonight's action, it's only take it like a fan on afterwards. You wouldn't see the Champions League treated like that!

Power Snooker ITV4
Matt Smith With Dennis Taylor

Mark Selby Vs Matthew Stevens
Matt Chilton And Ronnie O'Sullivan

Saturday 19th November - Heineken Cup

Studio was at Welford Road, Leicester with Simon Lazenby presenting and Paul Wallace, Ieuan Evans, Sean Fitzpatrick and Dean Ryan as the studio pundits before Dean went off the ‘The Front Line’ for the Leicester game. Will Greenwood did the pitchside analysis before the game and James Gemmell was the interviewer.

Biarritz vs Saracens (Sky Sports 1)
Commentators: Scott Hastings and Dewi Morris

Treviso vs Ospreys (Red Button)
Commentators: Simon Ward and Matt Perry

Castres vs Munster (Sky Sports 1)
Commentators: Martin Gillingham and Alan Quinlan

Harlequins vs Gloucester (Red Button)
Commentators: Bob Symonds and Pat Sanderson

Leicester vs Ulster (Sky Sports 1)
Commentators: Miles Harrison and Will Greenwood

Connacht vs Toulouse (Red Button)
Commentators: Andrew Cotter and Frankie Sheehan

Tennis World Finals

Sky Sports 4
Marcus Buckland With Boris Becker, Greg Rusedski, Annabel
Croft
Federer Vs Tsonga
Sky Sports: Mark Petchey And Barry Cowen
BBC2: Andrew Castle And Tim Henman

Sunday 20th November - Heineken Cup

Studio was at The Recreation Ground, Bath with Simon Lazenby presenting and Ieuan Evans, Paul Wallace and Will Greenwood as the studio pundits. Dean Ryan was on ‘The Front Line’.

Leinster vs Glasgow (Sky Sports 3)
Commentators: Johnnie Hammond and Tyrone Howe

Bath vs Montpellier (Sky Sports 3)
Commentators: Mark Robson and Stuart Barnes

And in Supreme cost cutting measures, Castle also presented from a studio alongside Henman.

The Sky Sports commentary box has got to be the smallest thing i've ever seen!


Where did Greenwood go for the second game? I didn't see him?

Not sure how many people watch horse racing on here but would just like to say how good a commentator Simon Holt is. He really is the Martin Tyler of horse racing, a geniune passion and excitement for the sport. He was brilliant at the end of the Betfair chase on Saturday.

Quite agree mate. He is my favourite sports commentator, he is simply brilliant.

[quote=LOSG;54724710]And in Supreme cost cutting measures, Castle also presented from a studio alongside Henman.

QUOTE]

i got the feeling it was a one off as Castle mentioned Sue Barker would be working out who went through etc later in the week

yea i agree, theres a few good horse racing commentators and they must have good eyes to tell you whos in what place all the time...

look a very good view though lol

Monday 21st November - ITV4

Heineken Cup Highlights

Craig Doyle presented from Kingsholm alongside Martin Bayfield

Cardiff Blues v London Irish - Tom Skippings (reporting)
Treviso v Ospreys - Tom Skippings (reporting)
Gloucester v Harlequins - Simon Ward
Leicester Tigers v Ulster - Bob Symonds
Castres v Munster - Tom Skippings
Leinster v Glasgow Warriors - Simon Ward
Bath v Montpellier - Bob Symonds

Nice to see the Blues and Os first to feature on tonight's highlights show after the lack of Welsh action last week. Although I was a bit surprised that the Northampton Saints v Scarlets match, in my eyes the game of the week, wasn't one of the selected edits.

In real terms. The GAME of the Weekend was Edinburgh v Racing Metro. Sky you get 1 try for highlights. Disgusting.

Martin Haven and Matt Neal off-tubed the final rounds of the World Touring Car Championships from Macau from British Eurosport on Sunday Morning.

I don't usually watch it, as I find it pretty boring, and you can't really tell what's going on, but David Goldstrum and Mike Dixon did the start of the Cross Country Skiing events form Norway over the weekend.