Justin Marshall gone

@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:

Mils isn't an improvement in that role. Slim pickings in the current Sky rugby crew.

That's exactly what I was going to say. No matter how annoying Marshall can be, he still knows a lot more than Mils. Apart from Rikki Swannell, I don't rate most of the commentators highly, but she's mainly doing sevens and women's rugby, so probably wouldn't be a good fit for the RWC. It's a pity Christian Cullen isn't a permanent member of the commentating team. I think he'd be better than Mils.

Thoughts on Stanway?

@MiketheSnow said in Justin Marshall gone:

Thoughts on Stanway?

Vapid, with a voice like a duck aggressively quacking

@MiketheSnow Different role. As a presenter she's okay. I just think one of the so-called experts could have done the presenter's role (Wilson does it occasionally on the Breakdown) and then they could have used her spot for another expert like Cullen. But as has been posted before, it's slim pickings as it comes to good expert commentators.

@Duluth said in Justin Marshall gone:

@MiketheSnow said in Justin Marshall gone:

Thoughts on Stanway?

Vapid, with a voice like a duck aggressively quacking

So Marshall must feel the same and think he’s better than at least half the team

I've always felt Marshall is a much better analyst than commentator, particularly when he used to do articles for stuff or the herald.

Think in the commentator box he let's his emotions get the better of him and speaks before thinking

@taniwharugby always desperate to appear fair and balanced he'd overdo his reverse bias.

@taniwharugby Yep, I agree with that. As annoying as he can be as a commentator, as an analyst Marshall offers much more than Mils.

I assume there will still be a programme dedicated to the RWC produced in NZ , so maybe they'll use Marshall for that.

The biggest upside of the Sky team for the RWC is that shouty John Kirwan won't be in it!

I prefer Marshall to Wilson these days. Wilson is so bloody cringe and always contradicts himself.

I actually don’t mind Mils, he seems to be level headed where most of the other guys on TV get a bit carried away.

@MiketheSnow

I’m sure Marshall will think he’s better than everyone

The problem is Sky has done a terrible job at refreshing it’s talent over the years

I can understand Nisbett. He’s not the best commentator anymore (probably McTanish) but no one else has been given a chance at higher levels apart from TJ

I normally like Wilson although in recent years he’s made some strange comments.. maybe trying to do the blokey thing that Sky encourages

Expert co-commentators is where the big weakness is. They are all varying shades of wrong or bland. Maybe Te Nana because he sounds like he enjoys watching rugby.. just keep him off camera

@taniwharugby said in Justin Marshall gone:

I've always felt Marshall is a much better analyst than commentator, particularly when he used to do articles for stuff or the herald.

Obligatory mention of the article he wrote suggesting rugby should ban pushing in scrums

@Stargazer Cullen lives up to his stereotype for me. There are enough ex-players out there who could offer insightful comments. Someone like Conrad Smith would be good.

Jeff McTainsh should be used more often.

Wilson has really improved as a presenter.

@Duluth said in Justin Marshall gone:

@MiketheSnow

I’m sure Marshall will think he’s better than everyone

The problem is Sky has done a terrible job at refreshing it’s talent over the years

I can understand Nisbett. He’s not the best commentator anymore (probably McTanish) but no one else has been given a chance at higher levels apart from TJ

I normally like Wilson although in recent years he’s made some strange comments.. maybe trying to do the blokey thing that Sky encourages

Expert co-commentators is where the big weakness is. They are all varying shades of wrong or bland. Maybe Te Nana because he sounds like he enjoys watching rugby.. just keep him off camera

Please no. Karl Te Nana is as cringe as they come.

@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:

@Stargazer Cullen lives up to his stereotype for me. There are enough ex-players out there who could offer insightful comments. Someone like Conrad Smith would be good.

Jeff McTainsh should be used more often.

Wilson has really improved as a presenter.

Cullen doesn’t commentate anymore anyway. He’s busy selling real-estate and playing golf.

@Canes4life I just suggested him as someone that sounds like they enjoy watching rugby. Most of the others just complain about scrums, laws they dislike etc etc

I'm struggling to think of a good co-commentator currently used by sky. Do you have suggestion from their current group?

Grant Fox would have been good, I liked him in 2011.

Thought he might have been available now he's out of the national setup.

@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:

Jeff McTainsh should be used more often.

He needed more big games to be a serious option. Sky screwed up by not giving him bigger opportunities so far

Surely he should be ahead of TJ by now.. but he’s not

Further to @foobaNZ 's post.

What recent coaches are about? Get someone whose career has actually been analysis and countering tactics.

@Duluth said in Justin Marshall gone:

@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:

Jeff McTainsh should be used more often.

He needed more big games to be a serious option. Sky screwed up by not giving him bigger opportunities so far

Surely he should be ahead of TJ by now.. but he’s not

I think there is a pecking order and Nisbo is still at the top. He's now in his early 70s so can't have too much longer in that position, for obvious reasons mentioned on here. McTainsh is one of the new guard along with Swannell. Their time will come soon.

@booboo said in Justin Marshall gone:

What recent coaches are about? Get someone whose career has actually been analysis and countering tactics.

In the past we've had Hart, Mains and Kirton do this. Some of them before they became the AB coach, and others after. An ex-coach would be good, as long as they are a little removed from the current players.