@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:
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?
@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
@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.
@Rancid-Schnitzel said in 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.
They could put a plank of wood on screen and you wouldn't even notice Mils wasn't there.
Yeah I think when God dished out Rugby dynamism in some of these guys he made sure to diminish the personalities to balance things out.
Am I the only one who didn't really mind Marshall, plus I'd rather see Nisbett gone. I think he's now worse than Aussie league commentators at pronouncing Poly names.
As it's a RWC and Crusaders/Canterbury, Tasman, and Auckland aren't playing I would rather they had taken Johnson.
@chimoaus said in Justin Marshall gone:
@Bones said in Justin Marshall gone:
@Tim he'll be welcomed to the England coverage I'm sure.
He has to be better than SBW, maybe Stan will throw him a bone.
I still think SBW being so unbelievably bad and calling everyone ‘bro’ makes him good to watch in a cringy way.
@Nepia said in Justin Marshall gone:
Am I the only one who didn't really mind Marshall, plus I'd rather see Nisbett gone. I think he's now worse than Aussie league commentators at pronouncing Poly names.
As it's a RWC and Crusaders/Canterbury, Tasman, and Auckland aren't playing I would rather they had taken Johnson.
Yeah agree with you on Nisbett, he is becoming painful to listen to, also he gets the players mixed up a lot now.
Which is frustrating when watching, it is one of my pet hates identifying the wrong players.
@Chris said in Justin Marshall gone:
@Nepia said in Justin Marshall gone:
Am I the only one who didn't really mind Marshall, plus I'd rather see Nisbett gone. I think he's now worse than Aussie league commentators at pronouncing Poly names.
As it's a RWC and Crusaders/Canterbury, Tasman, and Auckland aren't playing I would rather they had taken Johnson.
Yeah agree with you on Nisbett, he is becoming painful to listen to, also he gets the players mixed up a lot now.
Which is frustrating when watching, it is one of my pet hates identifying the wrong players.
Now? I think I've been complaining about this since I joined the Fern in 2007. 
I like Angus T, Joe Wheeler and Bryn Hall as the up and coming, Wheeler made that one racist error but he seems down to earth. Hames is horrid also. I actually don't mind Morgan T in Australia, seems fair and knowledgeable.
@Nepia said in Justin Marshall gone:
@Chris said in Justin Marshall gone:
@Nepia said in Justin Marshall gone:
Am I the only one who didn't really mind Marshall, plus I'd rather see Nisbett gone. I think he's now worse than Aussie league commentators at pronouncing Poly names.
As it's a RWC and Crusaders/Canterbury, Tasman, and Auckland aren't playing I would rather they had taken Johnson.
Yeah agree with you on Nisbett, he is becoming painful to listen to, also he gets the players mixed up a lot now.
Which is frustrating when watching, it is one of my pet hates identifying the wrong players.Now? I think I've been complaining about this since I joined the Fern in 2007.
yep was being a bit kind,now as in always.
@chimoaus said in Justin Marshall gone:
I like Angus T, Joe Wheeler and Bryn Hall as the up and coming, Wheeler made that one racist error but he seems down to earth. Hames is horrid also. I actually don't mind Morgan T in Australia, seems fair and knowledgeable.
Yeah I remember that. How dare he not think that a middle aged white woman might be offended on behalf of asians. What an idiot. I’m shocked and appalled he still has a job. I hope he’s taken the time to re educate himself.
@Duluth said in Justin Marshall gone:
@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?
Yeah it’s a bit of a struggle thinking of anyone to be honest. Sky really need to do better.
I actually really like Bryn Hall and James Parsons as presenters (not commentators). Obviously Hall is still playing but I enjoy Parson’s comments on the Rugby Pod show.
He definitely offers a lot more than the likes of Wheeler, Te Nana etc
Almost all of the ex-players are terrible, SBW being the peak of that. It's not surprising: most of them were great players based on physical attributes, not their analysis or speaking skills. Someone like Mehrtens is an exception, and Nonu's cameos were a breath of fresh air - but in general I reckon even mid-level coaches would be a better bet than ex-players.
Less celebrity more competence is probably wishful thinking though.
