Justin Marshall gone
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World Cup shock: Sky's big call on Justin Marshall; Duncan Garner's legal warning
MEDIA INSIDER: RNZ's newsroom farewell dilemma; lawyers circle Today FM.
Sky names its four-strong broadcaster/host team to travel to France - with one big omission; Stuff staff’s gong concerns and internal messages; RNZ’s ethical dilemma over Kiri Allan speech; Today FM staff call in lawyers
All Black great Justin Marshall – famous for his “Boomfa!” catchcry – has missed selection for Sky TV’s on-the-ground Rugby World Cup commentary team in France.
The 81-test veteran is understood to be unhappy about the broadcaster’s decision. The Cup is a pinnacle career moment for any rugby media professional and unless he can find other means of getting there, the decision means Marshall also misses out on potential sponsorship and event work at the event.
The broadcaster has announced internally and to Media Insider that four commentators/hosts will travel to France for the tournament in September and October – Grant Nisbett, Mils Muliaina, Jeff Wilson and Kirstie Stanway.
“[Marshall] has not taken the decision at all well,” says one source close to Sky.
As well as his role as “second commentator” to a key caller – such as Nisbett – Marshall is a sought-after personality and speaker for the likes of dinners and lunches, especially during major events. This work likely forms an important component of his annual income.
At the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan - when Spark Sport had the TV rights - Marshall was an ambassador for both Land Rover and Heineken. He appeared in a Heineken TV ad, alongside fellow greats George Gregan and Martin Johnson, in the lead-up to the tournament.
Sky TV’s Chris Major confirmed the “superb” Sky team to cover the seven weeks of the Cup, “noting, of course, that we have many more people who will be working on it back home in NZ”.
“The four of them make up an excellent and highly versatile team, and they will be working very hard for us across the tournament,” says Major.
“I don’t have any comment to make on any individuals who are not in the team, other than to say that we have a number of superb commentators on our Sky team (along with world-class first-voice callers), but not everyone can go on these trips. It’s always a difficult decision, but we’re really pleased with the team who are going and are looking forward to their contribution.”
She said Sky did not mind its team doing extra work when they were away on trips, “as long as it doesn’t impact on what they’re doing for us. In most cases, it enhances their profile and is good for both of us.”
Major said Sky was delighted to have the Cup rights back. “We’re expecting fan interest to be huge, with data telling us that half of all Kiwis are interested in watching it.” The All Blacks play hosts France in the opening Cup game, with kick-off at 7am (NZT) on Saturday, September 9.
Marshall - who has yet to reply to Media Insider messages - has always been a colourful personality, on and off the field.
He was involved in a verbal spat with All Black Akira Ioane outside a Wellington bar following the All Blacks’ 32-22 loss to Ireland in July last year. Video footage showed All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke standing in the way of Marshall in a possible attempt to de-escalate the situation, while a number of other All Blacks were in the way of Ioane.
All Blacks coach Ian Foster said later that the pair had buried the hatchet and Major said at the time “we’re obviously aware that Justin and Akira exchanged words”. Marshall went on to commentate two All Black tests in South Africa.
In 2014, in his early days as a Sky commentator, Marshall told the Herald’s Wynne Gray that at first he felt awkward commenting on old rivals, teammates or his coaches. However, he said, he tried to speak to as many of them as possible to discuss trends, laws and styles.
“I am still an apprentice at Sky, still learning and I seek feedback from everywhere including the public, who were only too willing to give me advice when I was a player, and I work hard at it all the time.
“I formulate opinions and try to make it constructive whether it is criticism or not. It is not the Bible, it is an opinion. People who take it as fact and call me an idiot and much worse, they miss the point. I make comments and open up avenues for others to voice their thoughts on your views.”
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Who is going to tell the ref he's wrong and talk over the explanation?
Good riddance champ
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@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:
Mils isn't an improvement in that role. Slim pickings in the current Sky rugby crew.
They could put a plank of wood on screen and you wouldn't even notice Mils wasn't there.
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@Kirwan said in Justin Marshall gone:
Should have been sacked after the drunken incident in the bar. Hopefully this is him being eased out entirely.
Which one? I do wonder if his off field behaviour is considered too much of a risk?
A few years ago when he got the shit beaten out of him outside a Queenstown brothel should’ve been a turning point. But the old drunk kept getting into ‘altercations’ that are never his fault.
I guess some people are just unlucky
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@Bovidae said in Justin Marshall gone:
Mils isn't an improvement in that role. Slim pickings in the current Sky rugby crew.
That's exactly what I was going to say. No matter how annoying Marshall can be, he still knows a lot more than Mils. Apart from Rikki Swannell, I don't rate most of the commentators highly, but she's mainly doing sevens and women's rugby, so probably wouldn't be a good fit for the RWC. It's a pity Christian Cullen isn't a permanent member of the commentating team. I think he'd be better than Mils.
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Thoughts on Stanway?
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@MiketheSnow said in Justin Marshall gone:
Thoughts on Stanway?
Vapid, with a voice like a duck aggressively quacking
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@MiketheSnow Different role. As a presenter she's okay. I just think one of the so-called experts could have done the presenter's role (Wilson does it occasionally on the Breakdown) and then they could have used her spot for another expert like Cullen. But as has been posted before, it's slim pickings as it comes to good expert commentators.
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@Duluth said in Justin Marshall gone:
@MiketheSnow said in Justin Marshall gone:
Thoughts on Stanway?
Vapid, with a voice like a duck aggressively quacking
So Marshall must feel the same and think he’s better than at least half the team
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I've always felt Marshall is a much better analyst than commentator, particularly when he used to do articles for stuff or the herald.
Think in the commentator box he let's his emotions get the better of him and speaks before thinking
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@taniwharugby always desperate to appear fair and balanced he'd overdo his reverse bias.
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@taniwharugby Yep, I agree with that. As annoying as he can be as a commentator, as an analyst Marshall offers much more than Mils.
I assume there will still be a programme dedicated to the RWC produced in NZ , so maybe they'll use Marshall for that.
The biggest upside of the Sky team for the RWC is that shouty John Kirwan won't be in it!
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I prefer Marshall to Wilson these days. Wilson is so bloody cringe and always contradicts himself.
I actually don’t mind Mils, he seems to be level headed where most of the other guys on TV get a bit carried away.
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I’m sure Marshall will think he’s better than everyone
The problem is Sky has done a terrible job at refreshing it’s talent over the years
I can understand Nisbett. He’s not the best commentator anymore (probably McTanish) but no one else has been given a chance at higher levels apart from TJ
I normally like Wilson although in recent years he’s made some strange comments.. maybe trying to do the blokey thing that Sky encourages
Expert co-commentators is where the big weakness is. They are all varying shades of wrong or bland. Maybe Te Nana because he sounds like he enjoys watching rugby.. just keep him off camera
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@taniwharugby said in Justin Marshall gone:
I've always felt Marshall is a much better analyst than commentator, particularly when he used to do articles for stuff or the herald.
Obligatory mention of the article he wrote suggesting rugby should ban pushing in scrums
