Do we pick pundits by celebrity or by capability? The case of Rugby Union

Sustaining Sport

Many pundits have become such long-standing features on certain networks’ sports coverage, that they are in effect the face of the program and are widely marketed to garner interest. But although their famous faces may attract fans that know them to the broadcast, do they give the best possible analysis?
My guest today ruffled a few feathers in late March this year when he penned an article criticising the analytical performance of the pundits on BBC and ITV’s coverage of the Six Nations. In doing so, he raised some important questions about what we might be missing by not giving those key minutes of airtime to people who may not be famous or even former players, but whose profession and core skill set is game analysis.
In this episode, Ben Nurse and I discuss how some seemingly impervious pundits have become complacent, relying on anecdotes of past glory, and failing to stay up to date with the trends and strategies of the modern game. Ben also argues in favour of incorporating more data-savvy analysts, describes how punditry would benefit from being more inclusive, and showcases the miraculous rise of my go-to source of rugby evaluation, Squidge Rugby’s Robbie Owen.
Here is more of Ben's work: thematchreport.co.uk
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