On Saturday in the Currie Cup fixture between Western Province and The Sharks, a Western Province player by the name of Jaco Coetzee was anointed with a different name.
It was Coetzee’s first start for the union in this year’s Currie Cup but it was by no means his debut for the union, in fact, he was a regular performer for last years Currie Cup winning team. A player you think would be a familiar face to veterans of the broadcasting box.
Yet, Robbie Kempson, a decorated Springbok in his own right along with Gavin Rich, one of the longest-serving Supersport commentators, repeatedly called Coetzee by the name of an up and coming Province eighth man, Juarno Augustus.
Augustus, in fairness, to said commentators did start the first five fixtures of the Currie Cup season in the no. 8 jersey for Western Province and was down to start against the Sharks when the teams where announced midweek.
I have nothing personal against any broadcaster, but this kind of error happens far too often and after the debacle of the Ashwin Willemse saga it is getting tiring to deal with what feels like just a basic lack of effort and preparation on the part of commentary and studio crews bringing rugby to our screens.
That is an unjust generalisation, and not all who work for the only broadcaster who cover rugby in South Africa (grateful) fall into this category but it is becoming harder and harder to ignore the steady stream of basic errors.
The Springboks (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
To illustrate the point further, the two players in focus here happen to be from different racial backgrounds. On the field, Augustus also happens to wear a scrum cap while Coetzee does not and the two also look unmistakably different in height and build which makes the commentators repeated error that much more obvious.
Augustus also happens to be relatively well known considering his short professional career, having represented the junior Boks with aplomb, he has gained a healthy reputation early in his career for being a player with a bright future. He is a face well known to anyone who follows the game in South Africa, let alone to those who work in a professional capacity within South African rugby.
What is even more frustrating is that they did it for an entire half of rugby, possibly longer (I couldn’t keep watching), without rectifying or apologising for their mistake.
A clear example that both commentators did not do a very good job of compiling their pre-game notes and talking points and makes one wonder how they: 1. didn’t notice, 2. whether they did and thought it would be best to continue calling him by another players name, 3. or whether they had no clue, which begs the question, why are they calling games as a profession?
This is not intended to be outrightly rude or dismissive of the quality of pre, post and in-game information we receive but it’s getting harder and harder not to notice the difference in analyst and commentary quality when compared to other sports broadcasters that we regularly see through watching Test matches, Super Rugby and even the Mitre 10 Cup. That’s not to mention the professionalism that we witness when watching the broadcasting of Premier League Football.
It’s not a big deal in reality but it is unprofessional which in turn makes it harder for us, the viewing public who happen to pay a small fortune for the pleasure of watching rugby in South Africa, to take the people we see on our screens seriously.
That is a disservice to many of them and what they have achieved in the game and their careers.
Maybe its time to start looking outside of just past players to bring some desire and greater professionalism to a job that should not be taken overtly casually.
Homer Gain
Guest
I'm a bit biased because BM was my House Captain at school (state, not public). He was two years above me, but in his last year I played in a School final against our arch-rivals, in which BM as the super star scrum-half was the decisive factor. Funnily enough, Jimmy Mallinder (a year below me) was in the (losing) opposition. I wouldn't claim to know BM well, but he was a genuine young man and one with a difficult background. He won't remember it, but I recall him, as House Captain, not just leading the rugby team, but also the House Folk Song contest (we had one of those) singing Fighting For Strangers and something about "Kicking the Cat". As for Eddie and JD1, I don't mind their loquaciousness, or their obvious partiality. JD1 particularly remains an incisive commentator, and, for my money, the best Stand-Off I've ever seen.
Richard Islip
Roar Rookie
The South African commentators have been hopeless for years. I am speaking of the English commentators. The Afrikaans guys have always got it together, whether it be on radio, or TV. The English commentators get lost in trying to express themselves in their own language, often mixing up well used metaphors. There is to much UMMM and ERRRR. They do not know the history of players and games well enough. You have guys like Joel Stransky, who has the most irritating of nasal voices, and uses consistently, the most banal expressions.....HE IS A BIG UNIT...plus you just can hear that he believe he knows the game inside out, as he is a Springbok. The enthusiasm, knowledge and emotions of the Afrikaans commentators ( ex Springboks aside, as they are so often not good, when asked for commentary )are streets ahead, as is the speed of diction.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Eighteen comments answers your question quite clearly.
He did have a way with words Pete
Pete Dossinger
Guest
Corne, showing my age a bit - “Alles is gereed vir tagtig minute harde rugby” and “hier moet a drie kom” are for me classic Gerhard descriptions.
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
'Tis indeed Homer. Personally, I'm amused whenever Eddie gets a game involving the French as he creams himself over pronouncing every name, showing us all his language skills and otherwise demonstrating he believes himself Dylan Thomas incarnate with his over-romanticism of, well, everything. JD is also great fun, listening to him wrestle with his innate leanings to Welsh fanboi as he struggles to deliver fair commentary - I actually loved the passion of his uncontained 'GO ON!' from the back of the commentary box. At least it was honest. And Brian? He just reminds me of a particular mate who has to be the grumpiest England fan I've ever watched rugby with. And one of the most honest.
Len Davies
Guest
Respect the grace with which you stand corrected!
Homer Gain
Guest
All a matter of opinion. Personally, I think Butler, Moore and JD are the best commentators in the business. Nick Mullin on ITV is appalling, Fatty Barnes on Sky puts the Mug in Smug and anyone wanting biased wants to listen to the Ulsterman (name unknown) who commentates on Sky games (Ireland internationals and Euro matches) who combines ear-busting hyperbole with a determined effort to make up for half a millennium of Irish fratricide.
Graeme
Guest
Is this really an issue that needs this coverage?
Hahaha, excellent Harry.
Harry Jones
Expert
I must say I have sympathy for commentators. Only because of Roar blogging. Not easy ... the names in the SH are CRAAAAZY. But yes, Juarno is pretty unique! Monster!!!!
Harry Jones
Expert
“Hier is Naas Botha met die skop. Hy neem twee stappe. Drie stappe. Hy skop. Dis 'n pragtige skop. Dis die mooiste skop ooit. Dit swaai na die pale. Dit is reguit! Maar dit word gemis.“
We have to consider though, commentators need to know 100's of players' names these days. The style of commentating has also changed a lot since broadcasting matches on tv. Gerhard Viviers filled every second of his radio broadcast, these days there is an almost blasé attitude to commentating.
Yup, Bill McLaren was the best ever. Gerhard Viviers had the ability to paint a picture on radio that made you see vivid images of the match. When I was a small child I used to make myself a little rugby field with all the lines on. Just by listening to him I would place a marker exactly where the line out or scrum would be. Could then visualise the impending opportunities or danger. " en ons het n lynstaan 5 tree buitekant die Engelse 22 pawiljoen kant van die veld"
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
We all have our both favourites and less liked commentators . Joel Stransky seems to be popular with all . He imparts both knowledge and a fair amount of passion . Very easy on the ear . Years ago the legendary Gerard Viviers was the doyen of commentators in SA as was Hugh Bladen yet their almost ridiculous bias towards South African teams was frankly embarrassing . Even when the magnificent 1974 Lions were smashing all SA teams into the turf Viviers found little if anything to compliment them on . My all time favourite commentator was the Scotsman Bill McLaren . He was a one man show all on his own . I have to say however that I do not share your sentiments on the Supersport broadcasters . The no better or worse than elsewhere , certainly in rugby terms.
Winglock
Roar Rookie
Haha - excellent comment and even better response. It's so frustrating when commentators confuse players over and over again during a match in any sport - you feel that they are just winging it and it really is disrespectful to both the players involved.
Jarryd Thompson
Roar Rookie
Well played Sir Will gracefully accept that I have seriously fluffed that! What you did there was easy enough no? It doesn't require me to take offense but rather to be aware of and correct my error - let's hope I only have to learn that lesson once.
Len Davies
Guest
How ironic that the hyper-critical Jarryd Thompson has failed to do his own homework! Had he done so he would have established that commentating alongside Robbie Kempson was Gavin Cowley, a former Junior Springbok flyhalf, and not Gavin Rich, a former print media journalist. People in glass houses should not throw stones!
Paulo
Roar Rookie
There was an All Blacks game a few weeks back where Codie Taylor was referred to as Dane Coles on a number of occasions. You would think the others in the box would pull them up on it or atleast slip them a post it note so they could get it right.
Rugbyrah
Roar Rookie
I always kept wondering who stephen Muir was during test matches. They must have had Muir confused with Moore.