Nigel Starmer-Smith now does the 'World Feed' commentary for the French Top 14.

Was nice of the rerefee to finish the match (Scotland V Canada) just as it started to snow again!

Wales vs. New Zealand

Commentators: Eddie Butler & Brian Moore

RTE 2

R/U: Ireland v Argentina Tom McGuirk, George Hook, Brent Pope and Conor O'Shea hosting with Ryle Nugent and Tony Ward commentating
R/U: Wales v New Zealand George Hamilton and Tony Clements (commentary)

lol yeah it was.

I still find Nigel Starmer-Smith good value now, when on the Top 14 or the IRB Sevens. Shame he just gets confined to the world feed these days.

I'll 'obtain it' some other way, but I take it it's Conor Morris and Liam Toland for Setanta Ireland/USA on France V Australia?

I used to prefer Nigel Starmer Smith to Bill McLaren on BBC to be honest. I found old Bill used to ignore any incidents and controversy whilst NSS used to call it as he saw it.

To round up the Autumn International RU games over the Weekend:-

England V South Africa - Miles Harrison and Stuart Barnes with Michael Lynagh (who I'm sure is becoming an Englander), Dewi Morris (upset with the England set up as usual) and Will Greenwood.

One aspect of the game this week I preferred to their was that they toned down the use of the 'Front Line' and that camera angle near the 22-to-try line where it zooms from side to side.

Haven't seen the Ireland V Argentina game yet.

IRB Sevns from Dubai has Nigel Starmer-Smith as main commenator with Keith Quinn and (Unknown) sharing co-commentatry role. S4C's Wyn Gruffydd as Interviewer.

From watching Sky's 'The Rugby Club' I think they are going with their own team (probably just Johnnie Hammond and Will Chignell).

The cutbacks have started - I'm almost certain it was off-tube, you couldn't miss those two

Newcastle v Wasps - Martin Gillingham
Sale v Leicester - Simon Ward
Gloucester v Northampton - Martin Gillingham

On Setanta

Scarlets v. Munster: Connor Morris & Cilllian Keane
Ulster v. Connacht: Will Downing & Liam Toland (I think!)
Leinster v. Dragons: Connor Morris & Reggie Corrigan

Would agree with the comments re: Starmer-Smith, I think he's great and much better than anyone on the BBC currently.

'twas Martin Gillingham, not Will Downing.



This thread doesn't have to be just about the 'rugby people' y'know! (Don't take that as a direct response to you rusferic!)

News to me!

I trust that you have contacted Martin Gillingham to get at least a share of the fee.

That, and everything else he does, yes!

My apologies! Shows how much attention I was paying

Martin Haven on the Bobsleigh for British Eurosport 2. Very enthusiastic and Interesting.
In fact am always impressed by their winter Coverage, especially this year with an enhanced number of events.

I like MH too (when watching the WTCC).

Finally got around to watching Italy V Australia in the recent Autumn RU Internationals, where it was Paul Dickenson doing World Feed Commentary.

Going back to Martin Gillingham*, I don't really rate him as a rugby commentator, as he never sounds entusiastic about the game he/we are watching.

* and if anyone's keeping score, he provided the World Feed commentary on England V Pacific Islanders.

Not a huge fan of Gillingham either. Where did/does he work apart from Setanta. He's not as good as Mark Robson who Setanta are missing badly this season.

Sky and ITV.

Oxford University v the Tabs (Sky Sports 1) - Johnnie Hammond and Tony Diprose

Jill Douglas ( sounding very hoarse if you will pardon the pun ) introducing the Olympia Horse Show on British Eurosport 2 right now.

Some good news for Cyclists, ITV4 will have Daily Live Coverage of the next 4 years' worth of Tour de France(s).

ITV4 Daily Tour de France deal

Mark Cavendish seems to have done wonders for TV bosses opinions then. Good to have Gary Imlach on our screens for longer.

Either Cavendish or that other fella... you know... whathisface... Lance something...

I predict Phil Liggett's daily Lance-love-in will become very tiresome next year :sleep: