Amazon Prime to show 17 of the 20 Autumn Internationals

[loudnconfident]

Hi

according to https://www.msn.com/en-nz/sport/rugby/a ... ar-AANvavq
"The streaming giant will broadcast 17 out of 20 rugby internationals during October and November in the UK, a series that Six Nations Rugby are set to call the ‘Autumn Nations Series’."

Not sure if that means the 3 England games wont be shown - I fear it might,

Always supposing the SH arrive - NZ and Oz are stuck in Zero-Covid limbo for the foreseeable future

[Digby]

Can they not just pick a sodding TV partner. So much chopping and changing with services carried across different platforms who all charge their own fees. Though the idea they think about the consumer is probably laughable

[Scrumhead]

England games definitely included: https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... mber-tests

I’m just happy they’re not on Sky Sports.

[Which Tyler]

Hi

according to https://www.msn.com/en-nz/sport/rugby/a ... ar-AANvavq
"The streaming giant will broadcast 17 out of 20 rugby internationals during October and November in the UK, a series that Six Nations Rugby are set to call the ‘Autumn Nations Series’."

Not sure if that means the 3 England games wont be shown - I fear it might,

Always supposing the SH arrive - NZ and Oz are stuck in Zero-Covid limbo for the foreseeable future

They don't have Ireland's home games... yet

According to the IRFU, the “Autumn Nations Series fixtures featuring England, Scotland, Wales, France and Italy will all be available on Amazon Prime Video for viewers in the Republic and in Northern Ireland.”

Ireland’s 2021 Autumn Nations Series games against Japan, New Zealand and Argentina will be aired on RTE (ROI) and Channel 4 (NI).

Ireland’s Autumn Nations Series fixtures will be included in Prime Video’s UK broadcast in 2022.

[Puja]

England games definitely included: https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... mber-tests

I’m just happy they’re not on Sky Sports.

Same. I resent paying money for Sky's shitty coverage and I'm much happier to have them on Prime, who were largely inoffensive as a broadcaster last year.

Puja

[Croft_No.5]

Yup, the Sky coverage of the Lions was nauseating

[Danno]

Noone found Greenwood retching incorrect stats into his mic entertaining?

[Mellsblue]

I rate Greenwood as a commentator/analyst the exact opposite to how I rate him as a player. He is in my favourite all time XV…..
That said, I thought Amazon’s coverage was abysmal last autumn - might just be England’s turgid play dragging the whole thing down - but I hope things will improve as short notice, inexperience and covid (keeping everything crossed) shouldn’t be as big a factor this time round.

[Raggs]

Thought Amazon commentary was good. Mostly based on the Frenchman (can't remember who it was) being so full of joy for rugby, and infecting the others too. Anything is better than Sky, then BBC.

[Which Tyler]

I rate Greenwood as a commentator/analyst the exact opposite to how I rate him as a player. He is in my favourite all time XV…..

Nicol, Barnes, Greenwood, Guscott would be an absolute dream on the pitch, and would leave me attacking my own skull with a hammer drill in commentary.

[loudnconfident]

England games definitely included: https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... mber-tests

I’m just happy they’re not on Sky Sports.

Thanks for this. I could only find the link for 2020. Lets hope the matches are better

[Danno]

I rate Greenwood as a commentator/analyst the exact opposite to how I rate him as a player. He is in my favourite all time XV…..

Nicol, Barnes, Greenwood, Guscott would be an absolute dream on the pitch, and would leave me attacking my own skull with a hammer drill in commentary.

Lions XV of commentators that would implode a skull:

Marler
Hartley
X
X
Ben Kay
Dayglo
X
Butler
Andy Nicol
Barnes (Captain, can mute anyone mid sentence to blab shite whenever he wants)
NUMBAS!!*
SCW
BOD
Ashton
?

Help me out with the blanks

*Jiffy, in case the reference was too oblique

[Puja]

I don't mind Ben Kay actually. Needs to be kept apart from Austin Healey lest the bantah overtakes everything, but he's generally pretty good.

Going against the theme and talking about good commentary, I want to see more of Wayne Barnes in the box again this coming season. He was very good value in the two game he did last year.

Puja

[Raggs]

Was going to say that Kay is mostly fine/good.

[Danno]

Good point, I think it is the double act that puts me off, never realised before. Plus I needed a second row, couldn't have only half a pack.

Agree on Barnes. Nige hasn't been bad either imo.

[Mellsblue]

Agreed on Kay.
I’m coming round to the idea that Dallaglio’s punditry is some form of long running joke/alternate comedy persona. It’s the only plausible explanation.
Marler risks becoming a parody of himself if his work for C4 is anything to go by.
My faves are Kay, Scarratt, Vickerman and, obvs, Flatman.
I like Warburton on the telly box but not in print and vice versa for Barnes. I know Barnes gets some stick but he is perpetually in disagreement with Stephen Jones on The Rugby podcast which logically means he perpetually correct.
Olly Woodburn wins best dressed…..

[fivepointer]

Flatman is in a class by himself. He's funnier than Healey could ever hope to be and smart and perceptive. He and Durden-Smith are a a good double act on C5.
Warburton is very good and I like Glen Delaney when he's on.
Most of the others are pretty terrible.

[Scrumhead]

Dallaglio is terrible. At least 50% of what he says is incorrect and the other 50% is irrelevant drivel.

Healy is plain annoying. When he’s not trying (and failing) to be funny, his analysis is mostly pretty good. If he focused on that and cut the crap comedy, he’d actually be pretty good IMO.

I quite like Ben Kay.

[Dan. Dan. Dan.]

I actually really like Ben Kay. Also think Ugo Monye is a really good presenter, his rugby takes aren't great (he was a wing) but he's very professional and doesn't overdo the bants. Bayfield similarly has great presence without adding any insight.
Marler is like uber Flats. And sometimes I think Flats is a bit over the top. Really like Marler as a person and player but he definitely needs to tone it down a bit.
I think Danny Care has a future as a Healy tonic, far less annoying version. Also I think Ronan O'Gara was great as a Lions pundit. Proper adult and came up with plenty interesting takes.
Whatever happened to Keith Wood? Always liked him in 6N coverage. Also have always been a big fan of Brian Moore, despite his slightly autistic lack of a sense of humour and obsession over not complaining about refs, then complaining on every crooked feed. Maggie Alphonsi seems pretty solid too.
Greenwood is almost so bad he's good. But not quite. Woodward, Guscott, Dallaglio and, I hate to say it, Jonny and Johnson are others I just can't stand. Barre Jonny they are all awful humblebraggers or seem to be watching a different game and Jonny seems to just waffle on like a self help book all the time.
Definitely up for more Barnes and Owens as permanent fixtures on coverage, both are great to have as ref insight but also big personalities universally loved by all the players.

[Mellsblue]

I actually really like Ben Kay. Also think Ugo Monye is a really good presenter, his rugby takes aren't great (he was a wing) but he's very professional and doesn't overdo the bants. Bayfield similarly has great presence without adding any insight.
Marler is like uber Flats. And sometimes I think Flats is a bit over the top. Really like Marler as a person and player but he definitely needs to tone it down a bit.
I think Danny Care has a future as a Healy tonic, far less annoying version. Also I think Ronan O'Gara was great as a Lions pundit. Proper adult and came up with plenty interesting takes.
Whatever happened to Keith Wood? Always liked him in 6N coverage. Also have always been a big fan of Brian Moore, despite his slightly autistic lack of a sense of humour and obsession over not complaining about refs, then complaining on every crooked feed. Maggie Alphonsi seems pretty solid too.
Greenwood is almost so bad he's good. But not quite. Woodward, Guscott, Dallaglio and, I hate to say it, Jonny and Johnson are others I just can't stand. Barre Jonny they are all awful humblebraggers or seem to be watching a different game and Jonny seems to just waffle on like a self help book all the time.
Definitely up for more Barnes and Owens as permanent fixtures on coverage, both are great to have as ref insight but also big personalities universally loved by all the players.

Definitely agree on ROG. Not that he needed to but I think his analysis on the Lions coverage was proof he knows his onions. I hope the RFU have held exploratory talks about him taking over from Jones after the next World Cup….. if not before, Dors
I prefer Barnes but like the idea of having a ref on comms. Owens did make the point that he has constantly asked for less of a spotlight on refs only to take the £££ to do the exact opposite. If they can take the analysis to the point where they explain the thought process and mitigating factor over incorrect decisions, I think it could make viewers more empathetic with the ref’s mistakes - it’s a fiendishly difficult job.

[Raggs]

Who was the French guy that Amazon had last time? Ex hooker I think. I want him in every game. Insightful, joyful and infectious. There again, it's easy to be joyful about how France play in a lot of cases (except when they blow it!).

[Which Tyler]

Who was the French guy that Amazon had last time? Ex hooker I think. I want him in every game. Insightful, joyful and infectious. There again, it's easy to be joyful about how France play in a lot of cases (except when they blow it!).

Rafa wasn't it?

[Mellsblue]

Who was the French guy that Amazon had last time? Ex hooker I think. I want him in every game. Insightful, joyful and infectious. There again, it's easy to be joyful about how France play in a lot of cases (except when they blow it!).

Rafa wasn't it?

Kayser is good but can’t remember which channel he was on.
He was also on the ruck podcast - seriously impressive bloke.

[Raggs]

It was Kayser.

I wrote something on twitter about how rugby depends on the commentators, and how if they just moan about scrums, viewers will moan, if they give details and information like Flatman and Kayser were doing, suddenly it's more interesting (OK, a hundred resets will never be fun, but scrums themselves are interesting). I was talking about how camera angles and a decent commentary team can make the kicking game more interesting too, rather than just panning back and forth over forwards in the middle.

[FKAS]

Who was the French guy that Amazon had last time? Ex hooker I think. I want him in every game. Insightful, joyful and infectious. There again, it's easy to be joyful about how France play in a lot of cases (except when they blow it!).

Rafa wasn't it?

Kayser is good but can’t remember which channel he was on.
He was also on the ruck podcast - seriously impressive bloke.

I think he's been on Amazon and ITV. He comes across as a genuinely nice guy if you watch the YouTube podcasts he's been on. I loved him as a player and was gutted Tigers couldn't keep him longer but the call of the national team was too great.

His story about his first day at Tigers with Julian White offering to 'clean' Kayser's white boots (he spent the team meeting with a marker pen colouring them black) had me in stitches.