Rugby shooting itself in the foot...

[fentiger]

Interesting but, sadly so true. Article about what many are perceiving as the fairly puerile presentation of rugby highlights:
https://archive.ph/pnldm

[LE18]

Interesting but, sadly so true. Article about what many are perceiving as the fairly puerile presentation of ruby highlights:
https://archive.ph/pnldm

Fiona Bruce might be better at presenting a jewellery prog. Diamond gezzers those two! Sorry fentiger, I'll get my coat.

[fentiger]

Interesting but, sadly so true. Article about what many are perceiving as the fairly puerile presentation of ruby highlights:
https://archive.ph/pnldm

Fiona Bruce might be better at presenting a jewellery prog. Diamond gezzers those two! Sorry fentiger, I'll get my coat.

[ads]

I'm inclined to agree a bit. I like both Flats and Topsy, but the highlights show is rubbish and Flats does like the sound of his own voice.

[Big Dai]

It did that the day it turned Pro

[tigerburnie]

I don't blame the pundits, Flats is one of the most knowledgeable to me, I take this as a bit of poor journalism from someone doing what the British gutter press does best, put it's self down. They like to set someone up and when they are not looking, kick the stool from under them, a lot of hot air and nothing by way of constructive ideas to change what he perceives is wrong. If it were on paper it would be useful for wiping your backside.

[ourla]

On balance I think that's a load of nonsense.

For a start Flats is a top pundit and top bloke. Used to love the C5 highlights with him and Durders.

And I think Topsy is pretty measured, smart and serious with his punditry.

I have to say I haven't got into the habit of watching the C4 highlights show though.

[ads]

The problem with the highlights show for me is it's just too rushed. There's no real analysis, just a few bullet points.
Flats are Topsy could do more imo.

[Tiglon]

I certainly don't miss Stuart Barnes...

I get the writer's point, but you could also argue that football takes itself far too seriously.

Interesting that the article doesn't compare viewing figures of now vs then - perhaps they don't support his opinion?

[Not a jock]

If the journo really believes Flats and Topsy are barriers to the game growing or they even risk its survival, he hasn't a Scooby. To the casual observer, it's far more likely to be issues with ball in play time and ball in air time! If you also subtract TMO time, the real action is only about one third of the match time.

[Cagey Tiger]

And to use the Sky coverage as what should be aspired to
If a competition wasn't on Sky, they wouldn't spend even a millisecond on it.
When covering a live match, more time was spent on "Coming up on Sky Sports" than on the punditry. And the whole programme was as short as they could get away with.

The loss of Rugby Tonight is a blow though.

[CrumblingTerrace]

I humbly disagree with the premise that rugby should be modelling itself on football. As someone involved at grassroots level of both sports, the culture between the two is dramatically different.

The humour in rugby punditry and ability for the commentators to see the lighter side of things is, to me, one of the most endearing aspects.