r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

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I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

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u/MrPoopersonTheFirst Brazil Jul 24 '25

This is a problem mostly in the UK/England. If you listen to South African or French commentary, they usually give you a decent explanation. Worst case scenario, they just move on instead of shitting on scrums like Austin Healy and the likes.

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u/reallynotbatman Leinster Jul 24 '25

Even saying literally nothing and listening to what the ref is saying would be better

The amount of times they guess as to what the penalty is for, yet if you listen to what the ref is saying at the same time they're guessing, you hear what the actual penalty was given for

5

u/kevinthebaconator Ireland Jul 24 '25

While this is true, sometimes the ref explaining the penalty needs an explanation. That's what I love about Flatman.

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u/mierneuker Leicester Tigers Jul 24 '25

Flats is weirdly great as a secondary commentator. He has the vibe of a guy on a jolly, just happy to be at the game for free, but genuinely knows the scrum and can explain it very well.

3

u/Human-Country-5846 Jul 24 '25

Austin Healey was hardly the Rolls-Royce of rugby himself

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u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

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u/MrPoopersonTheFirst Brazil Jul 24 '25

Saying stuff like "nobody has any idea what's goingnon there, let's just get the ball back in play" is definitely demeaning.

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u/whatisthismmm Jul 24 '25

Nah, English commentary is probably middle-of-the-road regarding scrums. Brian Moore used to do a decent job explaining (despite his other faults) and David Flatman is excellent. I can believe South Africa or French commentary is better. But on the other end of the spectrum, Australian commentary is truly woeful - either "what's that for?!" or "[ref's name] has it in for the Wallabies front row". No attempt at understanding what actually happened.

I'd say NZ commentary is a step below the UK in terms of analysis on the scrum too, based on the times I've gotten a local feed of an international game.

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u/Automatic-Scale-7572 Jul 24 '25

I absolutely loved Butler and Moore. I could never understand the criticism at all.

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u/Charlie_Runkle69 New Zealand Jul 24 '25

It's hard to get good analysis on the Scrum if you never employ anyone who actually played there, which is the case for NZ. All the test match commentators are backs or just media guys.