Ex Sport 24
Justin Marshall, yet another prominent former rugby international to go the TV pundit route when the curtain came down on his playing days, probably sounds like a breath of fresh air in the match-day booth to many South Africans.I believe it remains true to say that New Zealand’s commentators are collectively a less biased bunch than most of their Australian counterparts - perhaps “Kafe” tries best not to be? - but they do still call All Black games with a bit of a slant, just as SuperSport’s arsenal are also largely SA-leaning, with at least some element of logic.
But this is where Marshall is disarmingly different.
With the now 38-year-old, 81-cap scrumhalf legend (I believe we can brand him that) having taken up microphone duties for Sky Sports NZ, has come a new voice in moderation and impartiality, if you like.
So much so, in fact, that on Kiwi soil itself many people have been muttering about whether the ex-Crusaders No 9 favourite has some kind of axe to grind with the current All Black set-up!
I noticed this week that there’s a fairly well-subscribed Facebook campaign titled “Get Justin Marshall off Sky Sports commentary”. (Well NOT at all surprising from the land of BL. Marshall would be completly at odds with these mongs!!!)
And in the blogosphere are others saying things like: “The man is one of my favourite All Blacks ever. I’d just prefer him to be feeding a scrum than commenting on a scrum.”
So Marshall doesn’t have a unanimous TV fan club in New Zealand, that’s for sure.
To my neutral mind, though, he comes across admirably well for fair judgement, and it has surprised me a bit because in his playing career I always viewed him as a dyed-in-the-wool New Zealander who was never afraid to wind up, for instance, fans in South African stadiums - but then aren’t scrumhalves universally like that?
During the nail-biting second Test between the All Blacks and Ireland last Saturday, he spotted an instance of sneaky, cynical obstruction by a home player.
“It doesn’t matter if you are black or green, rugby doesn’t need that kind of thing,” he submitted, or words to that effect. (The guy is ONE in a million in nz)
And from my very distant hotel telly in Johannesburg, I couldn’t find significant cause to disagree, myself ...
Long live Marshall may he prove to be a thorn in the side of all cheating nz refs etc.
