No more Channel 7 Rugby Coverage

[Elfster]

The realisation is a bit slow, but what should be good news for all Rugby in Australia, is that the Sydney Bledisloe was the last time Ch7 covered Rugby. No more disdainful and half-hearted coverage. Channel 10 does the forthcoming NH tour and then it is off to Channel 9 for next year's free-to-air (FTA). And I am seriously hoping for an improvement. In general Ch 7 seemed to have given up some time ago....so it should be better. And hopefully with a greater exposure we may see some "top-down" exposure to the lower levels of Rugby.

And speaking of FTA coverage, how good has the ABC coverage of Shute Shield been this year. An enjoyable, fun, good natured and generally knowledgeable commentary from the lads and lasses. Well done!

 

[Doc]

Hopefully we can say goodbye to the most incompetent commentary team of all time for good. Ray Warren is bad for not paying attention to the game/getting players mixed up, but when I hear Gordon Bray I genuinely wonder if he is even at the game or is he listening to a radio somewhere relaying the call.

 

[RugbyFuture]

why is this in grassroots? theres probably a thread already open on this subject

 

[louie]

good news

 

[Thin Thighs]

Seven and G Bray provide better commentary coverage than the Fox Sports team.

ABC set the benchmark. Sad that Aunty doesn't get a gig beyond TNSS.

 

[Slim 293]

Gordon Bray can't even tell who is who on ground. He should've retired years ago.

I would assume that the coverage won't get much better.

In most Australian states test rugby is delayed until after midnight on Channel 7.

However, in most Australian states rugby league is also delayed until around midnight on channel 9.

Those outside of key NSW and QLD markets shouldn't expect any improvement.

 

[DPK]

Gordon Bray can't even tell who is who on ground. He should've retired years ago.

I don't get the Bray fray going on around here. He mistakes players appearances as much as or less than the Fox team do. He is a seasoned rugby commentator and an iconic part of rugby in Australia.

Is the fact that he has grey hair the main reason you think he should retire?

 

[Raptor]

they need some Roy and HG.

 

[Scotty]

I seriously doubt that 9 will be any better. They don't care a crap for what their responsibilities to any particular sport as long as it makes them the most money. As soon as a bigger event comes by, then the rugby coverage will get pushed.

7 and 9 in particular, but also 10 treats the australian public with disdain when it comes to both sport and other programs (witness both of them mixing in old series of programs with new ones to string it out).

The only FTA channels I have respect for are SBS and ABC.

 

[jay-c]

i watched the 7 coverage of the last bledisloe and was appalled at the amount of mistakes the commentary team made- the most noticable in ever, thats right- in ever
i like the idea of horan going to fox i think hes got a good opinion> lets hope its at the expense of jeremy paul.
martos red(horan will be better), cannos force, kearns' tahs> jp needs to be replaced and u then need a brumbies ex and some melbournian to fill the team..
i hope nine can get a good commentary team... that will be the key> anyone know whos on the cards?

 

[Raptor]

dont you hate sitting there watching and they say one player runs the ball when clearly it is someone compeltely different. and you just correct their errors to yourself. frustrates the hell out of me as i sit there picturing my career as a better sports commentator

 

[Ruggo]

Get rid of all the commentators and just have what the ref is saying. what pisses me off is when the refs don't give clear hand signals.

 

[Moses]

I would love for Fox to broadcast the Refs' mike as alternate audio, press red button type functionality. I know in South Africa they use alternate audio for Afrikaans / Xhosa / other language commentary..

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

they need some Roy and HG.

Quite agree. Their Festival of the Boot and Origin coverage has always been top quality.

 

[wamberal]

ABC's coverage has been impeccable. I wonder just hw many viewers it gets, since most club rugby followers would be at the games themselves, or playing rugby at the same time, or watching their son/s play.
I'd love to see the match of the weekend played under lights, when televised

The Brisbane club rugby used to be televised weekly, the match of the round played under lights at Ballymore. It was pretty good. One problem is that there is not a comparably good, small and cheap, arena in Sydney.


My understanding is that the Shute Shield rates reasonably well. Especially when Eastwood are playing (just kidding).

 

[DPK]

Ruggo's and Moses' suggestions in consideration, what about this for an idea; a "red button" alternate to the commentary that has:

• Optional referee's microphone feed
• Optional scoreboard
• Optional player ID box*

*Doesn't exist (yet, hopefully); a box in one of the corners of the screen that shows the player in possession of the ball. Could be just run by a producer or they could use some fancy facial recognition system.

 

[Brumby Jack]

The Brisbane club rugby used to be televised weekly, the match of the round played under lights at Ballymore. It was pretty good. One problem is that there is not a comparably good, small and cheap, arena in Sydney.

Didn't they try night games at North Sydney Oval?

 

[Moses]

Didn't they try night games at North Sydney Oval?

North Sydney Oval is a superb smallish rugby ground. I saw Fiji vs Australia A there which had a great atmosphere

 

[Ruggo]

Not having a clue about Sydney Rugby, what is Concord used for these days? Does it have lights?

 

[#1 Tah]

The Brisbane club rugby used to be televised weekly, the match of the round played under lights at Ballymore. It was pretty good. One problem is that there is not a comparably good, small and cheap, arena in Sydney.


My understanding is that the Shute Shield rates reasonably well. Especially when Eastwood are playing (just kidding).

Woollarah. TG Milner. North Sydney.

Not having a clue about Sydney Rugby, what is Concord used for these days? Does it have lights?

The TNSS Final has been moved to Concord Oval- Home of the tallest rugby posts in the world!