We get our analysis from a relatively small group of rugby journalists but we are fortunate to have some very insightful analysts. I will have a look at my top 5.
- Use it or Lose it (Schalk Burger and Jean de Villiers)
Anyone who has watched the show Use it or Lose it will have left feeling happier about the rugby world we live in. They are so natural at chatting with their guests about what makes rugby so special – the relationships. This behind the scenes look at the game is very interesting to see how important the bond between players and coaches plays so a vital role in a successful team environment. It should be obvious to us if anyone has worked with people they don’t like they will tell you how toxic it can make a work environment. The banter is so genuine and playful that you can see that the friendships they have created over the years with teammates are real. Outside of the fun they have on the show they know what they are talking about and often bring up points which many a non-rugby playing analysts would never have thought of.
- Hanyani Shimange
This barrel chested ex hooker is great to watch because he is very direct with his analysis and is happy to disagree with another person’s viewpoint. I find his ability to look into the scrums as invaluable to someone who struggles to make heads or tails of a collapsed scrum. He can see what the players have done wrong and more importantly what they were trying to do right. Trying to find out the ins and outs of the dark arts is a struggle for even the referee so having Hanyani on a panel analysing is a must when the fine margin between winning and losing is often a scrum penalty.
- Gavin Rich
Gavin isn’t that interested in reporting on the mundane boring nature of the sport that people often want to hear, match reports sometimes have one or two insightful lines if you are lucky. Gavin has the knack of seeing the bigger picture of what a team is going through and can analyse the gaps that need attention. The number of times you read his pieces and find yourself going ‘yes that makes complete sense now’ without picking up on it during a match. His articles are something that I look forward to reading because I always know that I will learn something new everytime.
- Swys de Bruin
I love the passion Swys exudes when he talks rugby because he can’t control his pure love for running rugby. He sometimes looks like he is about to jump out of his chair when he talks about running rugby and the proof is in the pudding with his previous Lions teams running most teams ragged. You can see why players loved playing under him because he is a purist when it comes to the game and will inspire with his approach. The same reason you need Hanyani to pick apart the scrums, you need Swys to see the space that teams are or aren’t using. Having a recent coach analyse the game is great because he knows the lingo of what teams are trying to implement.
- Brendan Venter
He is hard man to read when you see him speak but it is because he chooses his words wisely and boy do they hold volumes of information. He is someone that understands what it takes to win and lose as a team through his work with Saracens. He strikes me as someone who doesn’t suffer fools which would make for interesting viewing if he was on a panel listening to Naas Botha waffle on about very little. Again he is someone that understands the game through the lens of a player and coach which allows for insightful analysis that many of us would never be able to see. Those are the real gems, the little titbits of information on players and teams that we can’t see as a viewer never sitting behind the wheel.
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