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Australian Rugby / RA

Serge

Serge

Jimmy Flynn (14)
With modern technology, I would prefer an option for a feed for Australian Rugby matches that didn't have the commentator voiceovers. I currently mute the commentators and just watch the play and the referee signals however I would like a feed where I could hear the referee and players talking but without commentators.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
barbarian said:
My issue with Gregan, Kearns and Horan are that they just don't seem to know much about the players.

You rarely ever hear 'I liked how XXX played in the NRC last year'. Or 'His form in the U20 World Cup was impressive'. Or 'He's been tearing it up for GPS in club rugby'.

They knew nothing about the Force players beyond the one fact that they had in the media guide in front of them - we heard about Henry Stowers playing for Samoa about nine times, but nothing beyond that.

And you get countless small mistakes like George Gregan calling James Ramm 'John Ramm' (the Spanish golfer).

I have nothing against ex-players in the box, but it does feel a lot like they roll into the box on a Saturday night and go "OK, who's playing tonight lads?"
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This is it for me. They seem like they do it because it's a bit of fun not because they are that invested in doing it well.

The lack of preparation is so poor.
 
barbarian

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Obviously there's a budget issue and we can't afford a stable of commentators like we used to have, but the AFL do it so well on Fox.

They have the older vets like Dunstall, Lyon and Healey to give a bit of gravitas, but then younger recently retired guys like Nick Riewoldt, Jonathon Brown, Luke Hodge who know how modern coaches and players look to play the game.

Letting Steve Hoiles go was madness as he knew the players, the coaches and how the modern game works.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
A big problem with rugby is how small it is. There's just less jobs and less ability for more commentators to get a gig to learn the ropes and the better ones rise to the top.

It's very difficult for someone who isn't a former test star to break into it. It's now also difficult for those that were to due to the lack of positions.
 
Ignoto

Ignoto

Peter Sullivan (51)
Braveheart81 said:
It's now also difficult for those that were to due to the lack of positions.
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Bring on mandatory retirement ages like the Professional Service firms have.

I don't think it's a money thing either. At least three podcasts come to mind who only focus on Rugby in Australia. These blokes would be pulling in bugger all or no money and are doing for their enjoyment of the game. All of them demonstrate they're keeping up with the players both domestically and nationally.

Hell, if you listen to Morgan Turinuri just once breakdown a play on the Ruckus, you'd have gotten more insight than Kafer has provided in over a decade.

If you listen to Sean Maloney or Jaybor talk about the game, you'll have more colour than Kearns has shown since giving the two finger salute to the Kiwis.

All three of those names have called games before, either domestically or nationally, yet we still have the same guys who look less than interested in being there. Hell, has anyone listened to Gregan? How this bloke has convinced investors to pony up cash into his companies is beyond me. He seems passionless for something that was a huge part of his life.
 
Jimmy_Crouch

Jimmy_Crouch

Peter Johnson (47)
barbarian said:
Letting Steve Hoiles go was madness as he knew the players, the coaches and how the modern game works.
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Could not agree more. After the Eddie incident, Hoiles decided to not be the funny guy but the recently retired player that can add an insight only person close to a professional rugby environment can.
 
Dismal Pillock

Dismal Pillock

Michael Lynagh (62)
Serge said:
With modern technology, I would prefer an option for a feed for Australian Rugby matches that didn't have the commentator voiceovers. I currently mute the commentators and just watch the play and the referee signals however I would like a feed where I could hear the referee and players talking but without commentators.
Click to expand...

Japan telly has this. It's strangely calming.

Braveheart81 said:
This is it for me. They seem like they do it because it's a bit of fun not because they are that invested in doing it well.

The lack of preparation is so poor.
Click to expand...
Not exactly Bill Mclaren are they.....

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PhilClinton

PhilClinton

Mark Loane (55)
Wilson said:
Kearns is filling the same role but he's not the new Buddha, has none of the energy or ability and doesn't radiate the sheer joy for the game that Buddha always did.
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Buddha did live commentary for the Brisbane Corporate 10s a couple of years ago and it was the best commentating I've heard in a long time. Obviously knew none of the players names which made it even more entertaining.
 
Jimmy_Crouch

Jimmy_Crouch

Peter Johnson (47)
Braveheart81 said:
A big problem with rugby is how small it is. There's just less jobs and less ability for more commentators to get a gig to learn the ropes and the better ones rise to the top.

It's very difficult for someone who isn't a former test star to break into it. It's now also difficult for those that were to due to the lack of positions.
Click to expand...


Every QPR match will be covered this year so that increases the opportunity.
 
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Omar Comin'

Omar Comin'

Chilla Wilson (44)
Agree with a lot of the talk about commentary. It often feels to me as if our commentators view the game like a lot of rugby league supporters do and are way too negative about it. The commentary should celebrate the unique aspects of rugby and the greater strategic complexity of the game. When there's an arm wrestle of a game, or part of a game dominated by set pieces and tactical kicking etc the commentators job is to make that interesting to the more casual viewers, not act as if it's boring. There's barely any explanation of scrum and lineout tactics, or other more technical aspects of the game.

A good parallel is the UFC. I don't watch it very often but like most casual viewers I will always prefer the more spectacular fights when it's basically kickboxing. But some UFC fights are more on the ground and the commentators are pretty good at hyping it up and explaining what they are trying to do with the wrestling and jiu jitsu. They celebrate the different styles.
 
Braveheart81

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
Maloney might not be doing much at the moment but surely his World Rugby gig is a better job (unless he wanted to get rid of the travel) than being a Fox Sports commentator.

He does the World Rugby 7s circuit and was one of the key commentators at the RWC.
 
Wilson

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
Braveheart81 said:
Maloney might not be doing much at the moment but surely his World Rugby gig is a better job (unless he wanted to get rid of the travel) than being a Fox Sports commentator.

He does the World Rugby 7s circuit and was one of the key commentators at the RWC.
Click to expand...

I think there would usually be more opportunity for stability and progression in the fox role, but these days I'm not so sure that's true.
 
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