Quinn heads commentary team

Press, 20 May 1987, Page 19

Quinn heads commentary team

Heading the TVNZ commentary team at the World Cup rugby matches will be Keith Quinn, a' rugby test commentator since 1973. Quinn made eight overseas tours with the All Blacks between 1974 and 1981 and has broadcast from all the major rugby-playing countries of the world. Grant Nlsbett, formerly a commentator with Radio New Zealand, will share the commentary duties. He has made three tours with the All Blacks for TVNZ. The third member of the commentary team is Brendan Telfer, who regularly covers matches from Auckland. He has travelled as tour commentator with the All Blacks to England, Scotland and Australia. Grahame Thorne will also be on hand as.chief comments man. An All

Black from 1967 to 1970 he has been involved with rugby telecasts for ’lO years. On occasions other comments men will include the former All Blacks Earle Kirton, Graham Williams ’ and Duncan Robertson.

Hosting the World Cup from the studio will be the presenters Peter Williams and Phillip Leishman, both of whom have had a wealth of experience in all forms of television sports coverage in recent years. Other countries are sending their own commentators to provide commentaries for the fans back home. Included * is probably the most famous of . all rugby commentators, Bill McLaren. , He has been describing matches in his rich, mellifluous Scots tones for the. 8.8. C. for more than 20 years and his commentaries of . ' Five ? Nations matches are well known to New Zealand rugby followers. ' He will provide tfte commentary : ’ for two matches for TVNZ. Also in the 8.8. C. party are Nigel Starmer-Smith,

the regular host of the : 8.8. Cs “Rugby Special”and the’ former Lion. Bill. Beaumont . ; Time differences mean that many countries:will, record the matches off the satellite and replay them for their audiences . at a more hospitable hour. The 8.8. C. is one such, whereas just across the Channel,, the French, who expect to do very much better.. than . any British:, side, will" Be screening the ', matches ; involving . their team live /in the eaHyj hours of the morning. The Final,, to be played at Eden Park on Saturday, June 20, is a : different story. Taking' the-, match live will be New Zealand and Australia/the 8.8. C., the, Japanese, ’ France, Argentina, Ire-land,-Wales, Malaysia and the European Broadcasting Union. .