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What people are saying about Austin Healey's latest TV commentary effort
Former England international and BT Sport commentator Austin Healey has been criticized for his supposedly biased commentary during Saracens’ loss to La Rochelle in the 2023 Heineken Champions Cup. The outspoken pundit has been accused of showing a Gallagher Premiership bias and getting up on the wrong side of the bed.
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Healey, who was known in his playing days as the ‘Leicester Lip’, has never been one to shy away from controversy. However, his latest commentary has come under heavy fire on Twitter, with many accusing him of favouring the English side over their French counterparts.
During the match, Healey seemed to imply that Irish referee Andrew Brace was favouring Ronan O’Gara’s side and that the television match directors were not giving the TMO’s the correct viewpoints when it favoured the French side. He also criticized Brace’s decisions, suggesting that he was giving the rub of the green to La Rochelle.
The former scrumhalf’s comments were met with a fierce backlash on social media, with many viewers calling for him to be removed from future broadcasts. Fans accused Healey of being biased towards Saracens and not showing enough respect to La Rochelle.
One popular Irish Tweeter wrote: “Austin Healey saying “there’s nobody coming across to make a tackle” at the same time as three (3) players who were coming across to make a tackle come into frame is Peak Austin Healey Commentary.”
Austin Healey saying “there’s nobody coming across to make a tackle” at the same time as three (3) players who were coming across to make a tackle come into frame is Peak Austin Healey Commentary
— Patricia (@_PatriciaV_) April 9, 2023
Ian Frizzell wrote: “So is Austin Healey going to question every decision that goes against Saracens?”
So is Austin Healey going to question every decision that goes against Saracens? @btsportrugby
— Ian Frizzell (@rava_ian) April 9, 2023
Hugh Gordon wrote: “Can we mute Austin Healey? The man does nothing but complain” while another wrote “Austin Healey is having a meltdown live on tv. It’s great.”
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Such was the chat around Healey’s commentary that he entered the chat on Twitter and started getting into it with a few Tweeters that had directed negative remarks at him.
Very well
— Austin Healey (@IamAustinHealey) April 9, 2023
Left hand of Hastoy pulls him back I’m right and you are wrong I’m afraid
— Austin Healey (@IamAustinHealey) April 9, 2023
He also took time to agree with former teammate Andy Goode, who wrote that the broadcast directors had a huge role to play in how TMO made big calls in games. Goode wrote that: “So World Rugby might want to get neutral tv directors in the France games or for all games or employ their own for the Rugby World Cup in France if this weekend’s lack of replays is anything to go by,” to which Healey replied: “Totally agree mate was just saying same a director could decide who wins World Cup.”
Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that the former British & Irish Lion is one of the most technically proficient commentators in the industry. It seems that for many of his critics, it’s his lack of diplomacy as a pundit that outways the positives.
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Comments on RugbyPass
End to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
7 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to commentsWow. What was that? A 3 million word meandering article about what exactly?
2 Go to commentsNice piece of writing. And yes the Sharks pulled a rabbit from the hat and were a little lucky with that penalty try that wasn’t given… however the Sharks (with their resources) should be way more consistent and should be putting teams like Claremont away for breakfast. I expect more from them and hope they kick on now.
8 Go to commentsJust what the Sharks needed to get things going in the right direction Defence on the outside really creates havoc for the whole team and needs to be addressed.
8 Go to comments