The Sport Thread

[Brekkie]

Suspect World Athletics will suffer similarly to the swimming from a British point of view with it being back to back with the Commonwealth Games.

Really though as much as it feels like the BBC has lost so much sports wise for the next few weeks the big events are to be found there. And for The Open and Cricket whilst they're live on Sky the highlights remain at least.

[Steve Williams]

Really though as much as it feels like the BBC has lost so much sports wise for the next few weeks the big events are to be found there.  And for The Open and Cricket whilst they're live on Sky the highlights remain at least.

Friday 15th July must be one of the most frantic days in the history of the Beeb, with England vs Northern Ireland in the Euros, the World Athletics Championships, the First Night of the Proms and the Open Golf (only highlights of the latter, of course, but extended ones). Doubt they had that many events all coinciding, and all in primetime, when BBC Sport was in its pomp.

[Newshound47]

I’m not sure British Athletics are favouring the Commonwealth vs the Worlds to the extent swimming does. Certainly none of the other strong in Athletics commonwealth nations like Jamaica and Kenya are.

[RhysJR]

Whoever thought up the (European) rugby formats really need to have a word with themselves.


I think in the Champions Cup, the teams in Tier 1 play the Tier 4 teams not in their league, and Tier 2 play Tier 3.
So, for example, Leicester play Ospreys and Clermont.



I think in the Challenge Cup Tier 1 play Tier 3 team's that are not in their league home and away, and Tier 2 teams play the other two teams not in their league in Tier 2 home and away. Cheetahs for reasons are basically English; they will play their home matches in Europe rather than South Africa. All other South Africans team will play their home games in South Africa.




Guess there's still no word on broadcasters for this competition in the UK and Ireland? SuperSport were namechecked in the broadcast as showing the draw live, so presumably they will broadcast the competitions in South Africa. And BT Sport's Craig Doyle was one of the draw hosts, though that may have just been because the draw was in Dublin rather than any indication that BT Sport will continue to have involvement.

One format change from this year is that the Round of 16 remains, but is only single legged despite the two legs being popularly received this year. The competitions will be over eight weeks, with four rounds of pool stages in December and January then four knockout rounds after the Six Nations.

[Rdd]

The format is stupid, but it comes from a desire to reduce the number of games while at the same time increasing the number of teams. The 5x4 format was near perfect or even going back to the old 6x4 format would have allowed for the increase back to 24 teams, but as I say there was a desire to cut games.

[RhysJR]

The format is stupid, but it comes from a desire to reduce the number of games while at the same time increasing the number of teams. The 5x4 format was near perfect or even going back to the old 6x4 format would have allowed for the increase back to 24 teams, but as I say there was a desire to cut games.

One of the very few times in history that a sporting organisation actually reduces the number of matches! EPCR maybe should have a word with UEFA before 2024...
Agree that the older formats were near perfect (the potential complexity of not all second place teams the biggest issue) but nice to see an organisation happy to reduce the workload, especially with the extra travel to South Africa for many.

BBC Wales got a little confused by the draw

[Brekkie]

What - that's even worse than the last couple of years. Just stick to groups - simple to follow, simple to understand, delivers matches that feel they matter.

And to think in a couple of years the Champions League are going to destroy their group phase too, and then the World Cup where we'll go from a few juicy head to heads in the group stages to the big 16 teams being kept apart until the last 16 (i.e. the 65th match of the tournament onwards!)

[RhysJR]

It's been really disappointing (but unsurpising) to see many rugby journalists, commentators and accounts say how confused they are by the Champions Cup draw and format. If they are all confused, I have no idea the competition should be able to be understandable to your average rugby fan or even any potential new audience the sport and the organisers would want to attract. Disappointing.

---

Elsewhere, an interesting new format change has been announced in Serie A. If two teams are level on points at the end of the season, there will be a play-off for the title, rather than going to goal difference, head-to-head etc. Quite like the sound of that: it makes it easier for all spectators to understand the permutations whilst also potentially creating an additional showpiece match to draw attention of the wider sporting world. Of course this will rarely, if ever, occur so hopefully wouldn't be much drain on players.

https://twitter.com/footballitalia/statu...3628073985

[thebigdog2022]

Eoin Morgan to join Sky Sports for the white ball matches this year, he worked for them for 1 day on the 1st test this summer so not a big surprise, maybe just the timing of it

https://twitter.com/Cricket_Ali/status/1...2553645056

[excel99]

but IIRC in 2015 commentary was from Beijing with presentation in Salford

They sent a very 'full' commentary team to Beijing, including Denise Lewis and Paula Radcliffe (in addition to Brendan Foster), which meant various guest pundits were brought in alongside Michael Johnson in Salford - was quite a refreshing change without getting rid of anyone from the coverage.

EDIT - Overnights were presented from Beijing by Jonathan Edwards IIRC (who then presented the evening session on 5 Live).

I’m not sure British Athletics are favouring the Commonwealth vs the Worlds to the extent swimming does. Certainly none of the other strong in Athletics commonwealth nations like Jamaica and Kenya are.

Generally for our World Class athletes the priority seems to be World's then the Commonwealth's and/or European's (it's an exceptionally packed season, and some are competing in the Diamond League too).

The England Commonwealth Athletics teams is here, and there are no big names missing. Some not doing all the events they might, but still going
https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-ne...039957718/

The Commonwealth's, being a home championship this time around, gets a bit more priority than they otherwise might. I seem to recall an interview with Keely Hodgkinson at the start of the season which said her plan was World's, Commonwealth's then see how she was before making a decision on the European's. On the other hand for Dina Asher Smith this articles reads as if the Commonwealth's are 3rd priority (but she's still competing in two Commonwealth events!)
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/j...nouncement

[Brekkie]

Guess it comes down to exposure for potential sponsorship.

[RhysJR]

Generally for our World Class athletes the priority seems to be World's then the Commonwealth's and/or European's (it's an exceptionally packed season, and some are competing in the Diamond League too).

The England Commonwealth Athletics teams is here, and there are no big names missing. Some not doing all the events they might, but still going
https://athleticsweekly.com/athletics-ne...039957718/

The Commonwealth's, being a home championship this time around, gets a bit more priority than they otherwise might. I seem to recall an interview with Keely Hodgkinson at the start of the season which said her plan was World's, Commonwealth's then see how she was before making a decision on the European's. On the other hand for Dina Asher Smith this articles reads as if the Commonwealth's are 3rd priority (but she's still competing in two Commonwealth events!)
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/j...nouncement

Thanks for that! Sounds quite similar to the Britsh swimmers when it was discussed last week. I think commentary might have said that the European Champs are optional as they are the last of the three big events this summer. Slight anomaly with all of this of course is that is really on British athletes have three major events this summer, the US on the other hand only have one. Worth remembering that it is a post-Olympic year as well where not everything is in full gear, though there is only two years to the next one.

---

Quite a bit of changes by the looks of it coming to Sky Sports' rugby presentation this year. Not really a surprise as they have no regular coverage and it is an ideal moment to refresh the coverage after a few years out (2018 the last regular summer).

Sarra Elgan looks like she will be hosting some of the coverage, and Martin Gillingham will commentate on South Africa v. Wales.

https://twitter.com/MartGillingham/statu...xcR1DzhJgA




PS Not that relevant for this forum, but from what I can see South Africa v. Wales on BBC Radio Cymru is the only radio commentary of any of this weekend's rugby scheduled across national BBC Radio and the nations and Talksport. Guess that that maybe a rights issue as especially England playing at 10:55am is not clashing with anything really. I can remeber previous England tours being on 5 Live on Saturday mornings.

[Newshound47]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2022...acism-row/
This has become a mess with no option thar will one half of the divide.

[Brekkie]

I would assume the "A-team" will do the morning shift with NZ v Ire and Aus v Eng.

[RhysJR]

I would assume the "A-team" will do the morning shift with NZ v Ire and Aus v Eng.

I'm not sure Mr. T will be the best commentator but I've probably heard worse 


In all seriousness, I'd agree. 

Miles Harrison will be covering Australia v. England after receiveing the all-clear from cancer.
https://twitter.com/MilesHarrisonTV/stat...xcR1DzhJgA

Conor McNamara's Twitter location reads "This month: New Zealand [rugby ball emoji]" and still says Sky Sports in his bio, so likely he will cover Ireland v. New Zealand.

---

A somewhat of a surprise that Michael Vaughan has stepped back from his BBC commentary duties once again due to the Yorkshire racism scandal. Vaughan missed The Ashes for both BT Sport and Test Match Special, but after undergoing an eductaion course was allowed back for the West Indies series in the Spring and the recent New Zealand series (including up until yesterday at Headingly).

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/61975267

This announcment comes after an email sent on Monday morning by the BBC's BBC Sport’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic group critiscing the BBC for allowing Vaughan back. It is believed he is one of those that has been charged by the ECB over the racism scandal, with the hearing for those charged expected in September.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/j...1656341978