Should SBS broadcast the Wallabies again?

I'm not a big fan of commentator Moore but its a hell of a lot better than anything 9 could have come up with (putting it lightly 9 are shithouse). SBS do a great job with the Tour De France, they did a good job with the Rugby also - I'd like to see them cover it more.

I didn’t even see the game and I whole heartedly support SBS's coverage of any future wallaby matches. I had experience with SBS when they covered the motorcycling 500cc world championship in the late eighties, before the commercial (nein) network took over and killed it. Their coverage was excellent - professional knowledgeable and informative. I understand that the commentary was like listening to kiwis commentate, e.g. the complete antithesis of the wallaby glee club on FOX.

Government subsidisies SBS so they show less ads...Hmmm I am conflicted here but it may mean less ray hadley...

Well said Johnno, I agree whole heartedly! So far in front of the Fox Sports commentary it was not funny.

I would be happy if they brought it less for SBS and still get more people and sponsors interested in the sport with nationwide coverage. It would further boost teams like the Force and Rebels

That's a good point. The more I think about it, SBS would seem a better fit for what rugby in Australia wants to achieve, rather than 9 or 7. Many Australians will watch a game of footie at off-peak times if there is nothing else on, say if they get home late from work, grab the dinner out of the fridge and sit down for an hour before going to bed - they will happily watch something with an oval ball and biff. So long as its competent, like Heineken Cup or a test involving top 10 or top 15 teams. And then as bakkies points out, there are large expat communities here as well who don't just want to watch wallaby games. Foxtel should be happy with this. If more people start watching rugby and getting interested in it, then that widens the pool of people who are prepared to get Fox Sports so they can see the prime games.

Another thing that is lost in the ARU's mind. They don't make much money from FTA so that shouldn't be an issue. With Rugby it's about getting the coverage and it should go to the network that will show it live nationally not just in Sydney and Brisbane. It was a massive issue with 7 and 9 have carried on with it.

and you will have the large expat Kiwi, Zim and Saffie communities that would watch on tv.

Uh, I didn't even know about this! Where were you BEFORE the game!? :-)

Good idea. I assume they are not on the anti-siphoning list? If they are, then SBS would surely be entitled to pick them up. But if not, then as you say, they should just ask for them and I am sure they would get a lot of interest. And great for spreading interest in Rugby in Australia.

Well they should be given the option of taking the non Wallabies 4 Nations tests. Channel 7 used to show them doubt 9 do.

Barnes does have an unhealthy infatuation with some teams and players. Very knowledgable though.

Agreed, just 'fess up and say we are sitting in a studio . . NOWHERE near as bad a The Rugby Club's ridiculous pre recorded interviews with players overseas. Watching Canno, Kearnsy and co. try to sell it as a live interview makes me cringe everytime. World class footballers in their prime . . perhaps. As actors ? I've seen more convincing performances at my 5 year niece's school plays. Note to Foxsports - It's transparent, rubbish and believe it or not, we're not morons. Bring back Clarkie. Nick McCardle obviously has friends in high places in the Fox Bunker . .

SBS has full national coverage... better for the code, give them a few Super rugby games to air...

I did say "almost" impartial, most British commentators have to be as they are usually well aware that their audience will be made up of different nationalities (especially those commentators employed by the BBC, the clue here being that the first B in the acronym stands for British). It's this appreciation of a multicultural audience that I find is lacking in the commercial networks here in Oz. Of the 4 commentators you mention, are you aware that Butler and Davies are Welsh, while Moore & Guscott are English? Shove the 4 of them into a booth together and you're bound to hear a bit of banter, especially when Wales and England meet, but tempered with an appreciation (or not, in some cases) of how both teams on the pitch are playing, not the one-sided, one-eyed shenanigans that blight, for example, Nein's Cricket coverage.

Yes some good names there Bakkies. What do you think of Stuart Barnes, he seems quite balanced a bit of colour , and analytical, he reminds me of Kafer quite similar.

Yes, that's a great idea. I would definitely watch it.

I don't know about the BBC rugby commentators being impartial. I suggest you watch the Six Nations BBC coverage which gets fed on ESPN to hear Moore, Butler, Guscott and J Davies in full force.

Bray is long in the tooth and not suited to commercial tv anymore. Horan has his moments and uses his fishing rod when writing articles. You need a mix really as there is more to a rugby broadcast than just the actual match. Brian Moore is colour in his commentary but he is a smart man and a lawyer by trade, Butler is no idiot either.

Of course, it was a massive improvement on Channel 9's hyped up but hollow rugby coverage — anything would be ! Not having moronic ads punctuate the action was a huge bonus!