Jeff Mctainish is the one they should go with, sounds like he is actually enjoying the games.
There needs to be a changing of the guard soon. Even TJ has been around 30+ years on either radio or TV.
Nigel Yalden is another who could make the move from radio to Sky permanent.
@Kirwan said in Commentators:
Jeff Mctainish is the one they should go with, sounds like he is actually enjoying the games.
He clearly enjoys his job and it isn’t obvious who he supports. Two massive ticks
TJ is also at retirement age
@taniwharugby just for radio I believe,may have done the odd women’s RWC game
For me if his health is good it’s TJ if not it’s Swannell.
On saying all that if Bill Mclaren can go through to 78 there’s no reason Nesbitt hangs in a bit longer.
@taniwharugby He has done plenty of rugby commentary for Sky from 1st XV, to U20s, to FPC and NPC. I think he also did some netball this year.
Swannell is very good. Super professional, impartial and no-nonsense.
I like Yalden, too, but would rank him below Swannell.
Laban, absolutely not.
@Steven-Harris I guess some of it depends on how keen Nisbo is to carry on. They flicked across him in the commentary box the other day (probably against Ireland) and he's looking pretty grey these days. Doubt he'll do another RWC.
I'd imagine TJ hasn't gone to RWC for Sky for the same reasons Justin hasn't i.e. budget and diversity.
I think TJ would ascend to senior commentator af Nisbo retires, but he and Laban are both in their mid-60s already, so they need to be developing a few younger ones.
@Chris-B some really good co commentators coming through ,been highly impressed with Ant Strachan on both radio and television
I know Kanes Hames is not everyone’s cup of tea but his knowledge in and around set piece scrum ,lineout and breakdown is 2nd to none ,can be a bit biased at times but that doesn’t bother me unless it’s over the top talking Phil Kearns over the top
If you want fan boy stuff Joe Wheeler is your go to
@Steven-Harris I think there's lots of guys coming through who will make good co-commentators. But, as you will know better than me - being a co-commentator is a different skill to calling the play and there's less of those around.
Despite the Sky bosses' feelings on Sumo, sometimes you have to put professionalism ahead of grudges and I wouldn't mind seeing him back.
Joe is improving - you can't last long as the rugby clown and he's got more to offer.
@Chris-B Upvote for everything above your last sentence. I like Stevenson, but I think that ship has sailed after all his bitter posts on social media after he left Sky.
@Chris-B said in Commentators:
Joe is improving - you can't last long as the rugby clown and he's got more to offer.
He's improved a lot this NPC
@Stargazer said in Commentators:
@Chris-B Upvote for everything above your last sentence. I like Stevenson, but I think that ship has sailed after all his bitter posts on social media after he left Sky.
Haven't seen Scotty's posts, but he'd have probably been better served just sucking it (whatever) up given how small the NZ media is.
