Apparently Bobby Skinstad sucks as a commentator..

[empirex]

..according to a column in the Cape Times anyway.

Just heard an interview on 567 radio between John Mathem and the column writer and he literally went off on the Bobby and other "former player" commentator's. How they aren't qualified, are useless, etc.

His contention is that if Bob had been a professional, he wouldn't have used the "coconut' term.

Well first off, the coconut term was used correctly.
Secondly, Bob is one of the better commentators, displaying a good command of the english language, eloquence and good knowledge of the game of rugby.

It seems like a case of professional jealousy to me. This guy needs to get a friggen clue. Sure not all former players are the best commentator's but Bob is not one of them; and from my experience some of the more questionable players-commentators have come into their own over time.

Fact is the public enjoy hearing from former players, and the ones that aren't cut out usually don't last long term anyway..

[froot]

Bobby = (thumbsup).
I don't find anything wrong about him as a commentator.

[InternetSwag]

He's doing better than Matfield and Brosnan.

In fact he is the best.

[Klipdrif]

I think he is good. And so does a lot of people.

[Madman88]

I think he is good. And so does a lot of people.

:p I think he sounds stoned half the time.

[Klipdrif]

Well he sure as hell beats Aswill Willemse hands down. I cringe when he speaks english.

[empirex]

He's doing better than Matfield and Brosnan.

In fact he is the best.

That's my point. He's one of the better commentators out there, ex-player or not..

[akescpt]

i think ex players bring another type on insight. it enhances the product. unless they cant speak engrish properly...:whistle:

[raind33r]

Ashwin Willemse please. And if you can find it in your perfect little mind to look past his pronunciation of Saaks etc. then you will see he actually makes a lot of sense.
English is not his mother tongue.
Do you have the same cringe feeling when they interview in English, other non-English sportsmen, e.g. Rafa ? or one of the European soccer players, coaches?
Why are Saffers (and I bet it's Afrikaans speaking Saffers most of the time) so intolerant of imperfect English, when it's not that person's mother tongue?

[bex.cpt]

I think Bobby is a great commentator

[raind33r]

At least Bob doesn't *****foot around bad referee calls like the other wussie commentators, e.g. One trick pony Joel Strontsky (spelling intended;) and he doesn't slag our own players like Mr. Stront-sky
Go Bobby! Go!

[Devill]

i think ex players bring another type on insight. it enhances the product. unless they cant speak engrish properly...:whistle:

+1.

Although Victor's english is not the best it is also not the worste and I enjoy listening to former players as they KNOW what is going on and why some things happen and are done rather than guessing at it.

[BLIXEMPIE]

Brosnan always sounds like he's on opium.

[beans100]

Ashwin Willemse please. And if you can find it in your perfect little mind to look past his pronunciation of Saaks etc. then you will see he actually makes a lot of sense.
English is not his mother tongue.
Do you have the same cringe feeling when they interview in English, other non-English sportsmen, e.g. Rafa ? or one of the European soccer players, coaches?
Why are Saffers (and I bet it's Afrikaans speaking Saffers most of the time) so intolerant of imperfect English, when it's not that person's mother tongue?

The one night Ashwin and Toks were talking about rugby on one of their shows. One of them used the word physique. Then all of a sudden, the whole show, every second word they use, was physique. I almost started a drinking game on that. Was laughing the whole show. They used it in sentences, that no normal english speaking person would use it.... LMAO

[BobsLawnService]

Skinstad isn't too bad.

[McT]

Skinstad, me thinks, does a decent job. I'd far rather be listening to him than Stransky or Bladen.

[alf101]

Ashwin Willemse please. And if you can find it in your perfect little mind to look past his pronunciation of Saaks etc. then you will see he actually makes a lot of sense.
English is not his mother tongue.
Do you have the same cringe feeling when they interview in English, other non-English sportsmen, e.g. Rafa ? or one of the European soccer players, coaches?
Why are Saffers (and I bet it's Afrikaans speaking Saffers most of the time) so intolerant of imperfect English, when it's not that person's mother tongue?

If he plans to be a professional commentator, he should at least take some elocution lessons.

[Zenbaas]

I like Bob's commentary. Ashwin and Breyton make me cringe when I have to listen to them. Stransky also irritates the crap out of me when he is on so I'll normally switch to whomever else is on at that time.

[Ho3n3r]

He's biased, for sure, but very good nonetheless. I'd much rather listen to him than Bladen, who makes a fuss out of even drop kicks that never looked like going over(rolling on the ground etc.).

At least Bob gets the players' names right - seriously, is Blades permanently on the bottle now? He is commentating's Bob Mugabe, doesn't realise his time has come and gone.

[FoXtroT]

Na, I still rate Bladen. He is still able to make even a dull game exciting with his enthusiasm nor is he biased. I reckon he is probably still the best rugby commentator out there.

[Sepeng]

At least Bob gets the players' names right - seriously, is Blades permanently on the bottle now? He is commentating's Bob Mugabe, doesn't realise his time has come and gone.

Agreed! How many times have you heard: and it's Ndungane over in the corner! oh wait, it's actually Morne Steyn.

OK maybe not that bad, but close.

Bob's not bad, he is a little too biased but better than most.
Victor, you're a legend as well but this pitch side thing isn't for you I don't think.

[MightyQuin]

If he plans to be a professional commentator, he should at least take some elocution lessons.

I don't think "he plans to be a professional commentator". Don't listen to HOW he speaks, rather listen to what he says. He knows more about rugby than some of these other w@nkers. Remember these explayers are approached by SuperSport and get offered a hefty sum of cash.

I heard the CEO of Bulls Rugby ( or whatever the franchise is called) on the radio the other day...jirreeeee. Talk about someone that needs allocution, grammer, syntax and pronounciation lessons. Forget about The King's Speech...and this guy is the CEO of a so-called international franchise that turns billions of R's a year.

If a rugby commentator doesn't talk K A K...I quite frankly don't care what he sounds like.

[Ho3n3r]

Agreed! How many times have you heard: and it's Ndungane over in the corner! oh wait, it's actually Morne Steyn.

OK maybe not that bad, but close.

Bob's not bad, he is a little too biased but better than most.
Victor, you're a legend as well but this pitch side thing isn't for you I don't think.

Hehe. He's been calling Ebersohn Goosen every time he's come on as a sub... Wonder when someone will remind him again that Johan's injured.


I don't think "he plans to be a professional commentator". Don't listen to HOW he speaks, rather listen to what he says. He knows more about rugby than some of these other w@nkers. Remember these explayers are approached by SuperSport and get offered a hefty sum of cash.

I heard the CEO of Bulls Rugby ( or whatever the franchise is called) on the radio the other day...jirreeeee. Talk about someone that needs allocution, grammer, syntax and pronounciation lessons. Forget about The King's Speech...and this guy is the CEO of a so-called international franchise that turns billions of R's a year.

If a rugby commentator doesn't talk K A K...I quite frankly don't care what he sounds like.

You guys are missing the point. English are neither of those two's first languages. You try speaking Afrikaans half as well as they do - assuming that you are English.

And Van Graan deals mostly with Afrikaners, of course his English and Grammar will suck. Look at Matfield - his English spelling might be bad(Twitter), but he speaks it a lot better than when he first became captain(05-06 ish), because he's had to speak it a lot more since.

Have you seen the European/World football awards? 90% of those Latin countries' players cannot even speak any English, never mind speak it well.

[scudsucker]

He's doing better than Matfield

ANYONE could do better.

[Jola]

I don't like Skinstad, but he is not a bad commentator.

And as for the word coconut, it has completely different meanings in South Africa, and even the negative version (eg Redi is a coconut) may be derogatory, but is not really racist.

[OrbitalDawn]

I don't think "he plans to be a professional commentator". Don't listen to HOW he speaks, rather listen to what he says. He knows more about rugby than some of these other w@nkers. Remember these explayers are approached by SuperSport and get offered a hefty sum of cash.

I heard the CEO of Bulls Rugby ( or whatever the franchise is called) on the radio the other day...jirreeeee. Talk about someone that needs allocution, grammer, syntax and pronounciation lessons. Forget about The King's Speech...and this guy is the CEO of a so-called international franchise that turns billions of R's a year.

If a rugby commentator doesn't talk K A K...I quite frankly don't care what he sounds like.

My goodness, yes. I heard/saw that guy speak the other day, it's something horrific to behold. Bet he makes tons of $, though. :o

[Arthur]

In my view Skinstad is one of the best. His comments are intelligent and informed. He speaks English.

He's our best English rugby commentator.

[1lum1nat1]

I don't really care much, except for when Breyton & Ashwin sounds like they had too much papsak and tik for breakfast, but that might just be a Capie thing. I try to ignore most of their (commentator's) dribble, especially in tennis (although completely off topic).

[Arthur]

Within 24 hours of posting my comment in this thread I received two emails from Columnate Research in my MyBB-registered email address:

Columinate, an independent research company, is conducting research on behalf of SuperSport International(Pty) Ltd. The aim of this research is to better understand your thoughts about sports commentary. In completing this survey you will contribute to the betterment of local sports commentary, so your opinions are extremely valuable...

Coincidence? Hardly. It seems this thread was a set-up for spamming.

Anyone else get this email?

[Arthur]

... of course I'll never click on links in emails from unsolicited parties...