Worst pundits commentating?

Andy Nichol or Jonathan Davies? Both really one eyed, both no idea of the laws of the game continually making glaring errors - but which is worse or do we have any other contenders?

Have both ever been on the same commentary team for a match with a welsh club v a scottish club? Would the world implode if they did?

Need a "no commentary" option imo. Just crowd noise will do for me. No tv slo-mo replays either.

I like Jonathon Davies as a pundit. Like him on league games too.

Edit:

So to answer the question, yes I think there are worse. Ieuan Evans was awful IMO. Scott Quinnell was full of passion and one of my all time favourite players but just used to shout and ramble. Is he still going?

Not a fan of that old fella, used to coach Bath and England. And Fylde. Can't think of his name (I could easily look it up I s'pose. Hang on......... Brian Ashton. Yep, not a fan.

Really like some of the new breed coming through though: Jason Robinson and Shane Williams are quite good to listen to. I like Ryan Jones too. Used to quite like Will Greenwood but don't see him any more.

Dislike Sean Holley as he sounds like he's swallowed a rugby buzzword-asaurus.

I expect there's others.

I think it's a very personal and subjective thing to be honest. You won't get universal agreement on this. People want pundits for different things. Some will want to be entertained, others want nothing but in depth statistical and tactical knowledge and experience, others will want a pundit with banter.

Let's also be clear here that we are talking about pundits, not commentators? Big difference. Pundits are just guests in the studio or next to the main commentator to chip in with pearls of wisdom. Commentators are the guys speaking the vast majority of the time during the match, like Bill McCladren or that nasal northern Irish Sky Sports. Often confused in these arguments.

Griff wrote:I like Jonathon Davies as a pundit. Like him on league games too.

Bit repetitive though and states the bleeding obvious a lot. Like many of the snooker chopsers.

Davies is good commentating on League. Knowledgeable, balanced and pretty calm.

He's truly appalling at Union, gets over-excited and (when Wales are playing) only commentates on one side. It's what Wales are doing well (or badly) and the other side may as well not be playing.

That day when Andrew Cotter (I think) fell ill and Davies had to take over the commentating (with the equally lamentable Shane Williams 'that was great, it was a great play, great skills, great vision, it was just great etc'  as his sidekick) was a dark day for rugby.

Cyril wrote:Davies is good commentating on League. Knowledgeable, balanced and pretty calm.

He's truly appalling at Union, gets over-excited and (when Wales are playing) only commentates on one side. It's what Wales are doing well (or badly) and the other side may as well not be playing.

That day when Andrew Cotter (I think) fell ill and Davies had to take over the commentating (with the equally lamentable Shane Williams 'that was great, it was a great play, great skills, great vision, it was just great etc'  as his sidekick) was a dark day for rugby.

Which is why commentators are different from pundits. For me, pundits are brought in represent that nation thay they're from. They're not meant to be impartial, IMO. That's the job of the commentator. He's brought in as a pundit on Welsh games BECAUSE he's Welsh. He's employed to give the Welsh angle, as Moore is for England games, Nicol for Scottish games, etc.

What's with the touch line being an "extra defender"?
It's just the touch line Jiffy.

With JIffy its the continual errors that get me. Ref gives a clear signal for why the pen is given - he moans about it because he thinks it for something else.

Nichol; its just his sheer ignorance of the laws

Cardiff Dave wrote:Need a "no commentary" option imo. Just crowd noise will do for me. No tv slo-mo replays either.

Going to the stadium is the best way to get that

ScarletSpiderman wrote:

Cardiff Dave wrote:Need a "no commentary" option imo. Just crowd noise will do for me. No tv slo-mo replays either.

Going to the stadium is the best way to get that

Precisley. Sat next to me though? I'd do your head in.

I like Jiffy as a commentator, but when it comes to a Scrum V international weekend he's too biased (even for my liking). Sean Holley doesn't do commentary often these days but it usually on standby for pratpad. The guy is an oaf of the highest order.

TJ wrote:With JIffy its the continual errors that get me.  Ref gives a clear signal for why the pen is given - he moans about it because he thinks it for something else.

Nichol; its just his sheer ignorance of the laws

Absolutely no charge for that, feller.

Jiffy is horrendous.

Martyn Williams just tows the line and doesn't want to upset anyone.

It's no coincidence that the poor pundits are on the bbc.

Can any body be more biased and have less knowledge than INVERDALE compared to him everyone else mentioned are superb

I will never know how Inverdale made it as a broadcaster.

When he's not insulting people and airing profanities, he offers a level of insight equivalent that is totally and utterly useless.

Alan Quinlan. Never ehard anybody so unashamedly biased in all my life. Familiarity breeds contempt I supposed.

Jiffy at least gives a passable impression of a human being.

Inverdale reminds me of one of a Radio 1 DJ from the 70s with a reptilian smile. Sean Holley and Sir Clive Smirkwood are Smashy to his Nicey.

Chunky Norwich wrote:Alan Quinlan. Never heard anybody so unashamedly biased in all my life. Familiarity breeds contempt I supposed.

KEITH Wood??????????????????

johnrgby wrote:

Chunky Norwich wrote:Alan Quinlan. Never heard anybody so unashamedly biased in all my life. Familiarity breeds contempt I supposed.

KEITH Wood??????????????????

They're both bad - especially when Wales are playing Ireland.

Can't stand Jiffy or Guscott. Nicol and Beattie are also annoying.

I also don't trust Keith Wood's projected persona. It seems very contrived.

I know it's not the place for it but I've always like Brian Moore as a pundit.

It's true, it's mainly the BBC pundits. The actual commentating I don't find bad bar Davies screaming it's on, it's on, wide, wide; but the studio work is tedious from everyone. I like Cotter, Butler and Moore.

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's true, it's mainly the BBC pundits. The actual commentating I don't find bad bar Davies screaming it's on, it's on, wide, wide; but the studio work is tedious from everyone. I like Cotter, Butler and Moore.

IMHO Moore is the best of them all, butler is knowledgeable, but can be both biased and boring, while i rate jiffy as a pundit, he is not a great commentator, but his knowledge and vision is first class.
many years ago i was at a function where Jiffy was asked what it was like working with Butler, they were both on scrum 5 in those days, and he replied " great his knowledge of rugby you could write in capitals on the back of a postage stamp" He went down as a person on that occasion to me, but his knowledge you can not question

Agreed. Bit too biased while on a match with Wales though while I don't find butler or Moore that bad in that respect. Flatman and Kay the best colour commentators for me.

of the new bunch, I like BOD, comes cross well and very knowledgeable. Don't like Jiffy TBH, it's not so much the bias which you expect, but he only comments on one team when Wales are playing...

No 7&1/2 wrote:It's true, it's mainly the BBC pundits. The actual commentating I don't find bad bar Davies screaming it's on, it's on, wide, wide; but the studio work is tedious from everyone. I like Cotter, Butler and Moore.

Cotter and Butler are commentators! Moore is a pundit.

If we're talking commentators then we're into an whole different discussion.

Maybe I'm just too Americanised; I see it as play by play commentators and colour commentators. Too much WWF as a kid.

Worst pundits are Jiffy and Andy Nicol. Funnily enough Austin Healey who is excrible on Rugby Tonight is OK as a pundit other than his moaning about scrums.

The most irritating thing this season though was when a TV director was given a new toy that showed the gain line. Every ten seconds an area of the pitch would change colour representing ground gained or lost. This made the game unwatchable. Fortunately I have never seen it since.

des wrote:........................
I know it's not the place for it but I've always like Brian Moore as a pundit.  

Moore is an interesting one. When he first started he was very one eyed and still hurting from the 1990 ( I think) calcutta cup match and was very biased -but he has mellowed and improved and also is now able to admit when he gets things wrong - a good pundit nowadays.

TJ wrote:

des wrote:........................
I know it's not the place for it but I've always like Brian Moore as a pundit.  

Moore is an interesting one.  When he first started he was very one eyed and still hurting from the 1990 ( I think) calcutta cup match and was very biased -but he has mellowed and improved and also is now able to admit when he gets things wrong - a good pundit nowadays.

When he writes in the Telegraph he responds to comments BTL which is very unusual.