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The 42
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The 42
How the dream team of ROG, Biggar, Harrison, and Warburton works
IT TAKES MERE minutes in the company of Sky Sports' three amigos to understand that the fun they've been having on air during this Lions tour is no act. Sitting with them in the restaurant of their hotel in Melbourne, it's clear that Miles Harrison, Dan Biggar, and Ronan O'Gara have built a happy rapport inside and outside the commentary box. Biggar and O'Gara's next-level analysis and insights have been unmissable. Harrison, whose voice is synonymous with the Lions, has smoothly guided the pair of legendary former out-halves. Ex-Wales captain Sam Warburton has completed what is a commentary dream team with his contributions from back at Sky Sports' studios in the UK. Tomorrow's second Test at the MCG will be the Australian-based crew's final game as a trio, with O'Gara returning to France for pre-season with his La Rochelle side. So this week was the ideal time to catch up with Harrison, Biggar, and O'Gara to hear how they've made the magic happen. __________ Ronan O'Gara: 'I didn't even know I was going to be doing commentary over here' Miles Harrison: 'I still can't quite believe that.' ROG: 'Neither can I. Jess has six kids, five and me! I'm used to getting my hand held on a lot of stuff. I was thinking, am I going on this tour or not? The only reason was that I gave my word. And when I give my word to something, that means a lot. MH: 'You'd gone so well on the last tour and made such an impact that Sky were going to want you back.' ROG: 'What Lions tour was that?' MH: '2021. South Africa.' Dan Biggar: 'Honestly, this is basically a daily occurrence. We're checking up on where ROG is. Has he got a coffee? Has he eaten? Basically, that's half of our job – making sure ROG is fed and watered and in the right place. 'Because I was back in London quite a bit in the weeks leading up to this tour, and I knew I was doing commentary, unlike ROG, Miles and I did a few sessions. MH: 'We did an old Lions game and then a couple of Super Rugby games.' DB: 'I think we'd be lying if we didn't say there was room for improvement.' MH: 'It was raw, but it was full of promise. DB: 'I didn't know if I would get on this well with ROG… I had an inkling that we would, but you never quite know until you're thrown into that scenario. 'It's helped that we've got on really well. ROG's two boys, Zak and JJ, were out here at the start and I've got my wife and two boys with me. So they basically became unpaid babysitters in the first two weeks of the tour. 'We went out and did golf and go-karts and things like that, so we've bonded in the commentary box and in hotels, airports and things like that as well. Sky Sports commentator Miles Harrison. INPHO / Dan Sheridan INPHO / Dan Sheridan / Dan Sheridan MH: 'There was a sense that the chemistry could really work between the two guys. Initially, I think you [O'Gara] were asked to do that sort of regular comment during the game without necessarily being fully part of the commentary team. 'And when we sat up there on night one, the Reds game in Brisbane, that was sort of the intention, but I knew as soon as you started to become involved, that you'd want to speak more. 'We all sort of looked at each other and thought, 'Yeah,' and that was acknowledged back at base from the production side, who were liking what they were hearing. 'The guy who's not around this table is Sam, who's been very much part of the commentary team and in many ways I think we would all say he's sort of underpinned what we've done with world-class analysis. DB: 'He completes the package.' Advertisement ROG: 'And it gives us a break.' MH: 'That's been handled really well technically back at base, so it's been quite a powerful tool because Sam's got all the gizmos to be able to compile stuff both not only in studio but also within the game. And he's such a clever rugby thinker and communicator. 'He doesn't waste a word, comes in, talks in all the right places, knows exactly when to finish his point as well to make sure live play's not missed. He's been a real asset. ROG: 'Poaching is a big part of the game, discipline, penalty count, exiting. Forwards see it differently. 'And that's really good to have because we can't all just say the same thing.' DB: 'What we've been good at as well – and I think probably matching our personalities as players and ROG now as a coach – is that we're quite happy to not have the same opinion on something. 'I think if every pundit or commentator had the same opinion on things, it'd be a pretty boring show and it would be pretty uneventful. And also, it wouldn't be real because not everyone's got the same opinions on things. 'We haven't been afraid to disagree, or just have different opinions. MH: 'We said, 'When these disagreements come up, just don't argue.' And I didn't think that was ever going to be the case given the chemistry and the friendship that was already there. Respectful disagreement is such a comfortable thing, it's quite an exciting thing to listen to. 'I think when people start to argue on television, I find that a bit awkward. You're in someone's living room and you don't want to introduce that sort of angst to their life.' DB: 'We're very fortunate that we've had Miles alongside us as the best in the business for the last… you tell me, Miles.' MH: 'Easy, easy!' DB: 'I didn't want to put a number on it! But it gives me confidence to know that, right, if you're losing your way a little bit, you've got a really good guy to fall back on and guide you. 'We're coming from a very high standard of playing and coaching, but we're at the very beginning of this journey compared to Miles. So we're sort of saying, 'Look, you're in charge here and if you think we're talking too much, just tell us to shut up. If you need us to come in more and be more forceful, just tell us. We've come into this with no ego whatsoever. Sam Warburton provides comments from back in studio in the UK. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo ROG: 'That's the beauty of it. Miles has a way of operating that we respect. How do I explain this? It's not all kamikaze-style, speak whenever you want. He has very succinct, hidden rules in the commentary box, which is gold. 'So the can of Coke is the red card. 'If he puts the can of Coke up in the air, it's him who will speak.' MH: 'Well, it was your idea, not mine.' ROG: 'Because when you're coaching, the least intelligent person in the room needs to understand when you're making points. So for me, just simplify it. Clear and simple. 'For example, at the start, because I've no experience, I didn't appreciate that you need to hear the TMO, so you can't speak when it's TMO time. 'Then when the ball is in action, once or twice, I've been telling stories. And I'm carried away with a good story but this isn't the time for it. And then you get used to it because you only need a little bit of a clip once and then you're kind of back on it. 'Miles has had one mishap on tour. He's had one mistake in one game that I nailed him on!' MH: 'You looked so happy.' DB: 'It was Fin Smith.' ROG: 'And he said Finn Russell.' MH: 'I said Finn Russell put it into touch, it was Fin Smith.' DB: 'It was the moment we've been waiting for all tour.' ROG: 'We pounced!' MH: 'You were like vultures.' ROG: 'The two lads are unbelievably professional. You know, I'm absolutely shocked because normally players who retire are in a mourning period, but Dan is onto the next thing. 'My bread and butter is rugby. With all due respect, that's what I care a lot about – coaching. And that's when I'm organised and I have a routine and this was complete bonus territory for me in the fact that another of the reasons I did this was that I'd be able to go and meet rugby league coaches here in Australia. 'The lads are highly prepared but because of what I do, I'm rugby from 7am to 10pm every day, so it's very normal for me. It's what I do. The viewer might think, 'That's very interesting information,' but I've been doing this since the age of 18, which is 30 years.' MH: 'You chuck in all the stuff that they hear in their headphones, and I think that's the biggest challenge for an ex-player moving into this world of broadcasting. There's so much to listen to.' DB: 'I remember the first couple of times you've got people talking in your ear and you lose your train of thought, where you're going with things, but now you can just turn them down a little bit. You've got the controls to turn the TMO up, the studio down, Miles down, whatever it is. 'Going back to what ROG said about preparation, it's no surprise that Miles will lock himself away in his room almost for a day or two before games and have preparation done on players, teams, scripts, opening lines. He's not just ad-libbing that stuff, you know what I mean? 'That gives us a really good platform to add our views because he's so polished and so prepared in that area, it gives us a bit of freedom to just ad-hoc it a little bit in terms of what we're seeing on the pitch because he, he's given us such a solid foundation.' ROG: 'You can only scratch the surface because you could have the family on the couch watching the game, they maybe aren't all rugby nerds, but some people absolutely love it and that's nearly their 'why' in life, being able to go down the pub and talk about the game.' MH: 'How these guys talk is so accessible. You can always go down the sort of high-falutin' language route, but I just think broadcasters are at their most effective when they talk in language that is accessible. 'They make it very understandable, very accessible, but in doing so, don't alienate who they're really targeting as well, which is the true rugby fan. To do it so early in their broadcasting careers is very, very good.' Dan Biggar and Ronan O'Gara in Australia. Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO DB: This is part of Miles' life, every four years going on a Lions tour, whereas for me just finishing up this year, I've been a player on the last two Lions tours. 'Somebody sent me a message saying what a way it is to transition, going on a Lions tour with Sky in Australia. I was thinking about how special it actually is. 'I'm probably not at the stage where I'm missing playing quite yet, because I'm so recently finished and I knew it was the right time, but you're fully aware of the surroundings here and the magnitude of what you're calling. 'How many tours is this for you now, Miles?' MH: 'It's my eighth Lions tour. 'I use this phrase so many times, commentary is instant journalism. Whatever your brain relays to your mouth, it comes out, it's gone, it's said, and there's no editing of live commentary. 'Because you have to be so totally absorbed in the match, you do feel one or two of those little things that players feel. So when players come out of the game, I think commentary is a terrific connection for them, post-game, as is coaching. 'As Dan said, I've been around forever and you get the point where you think, what could possibly be new that could excite you? And this really has excited me. 'We have here a current coach. I think football over the years has used the manager very well, and I don't think rugby has. 'We've got a guy who's just out of the game, literally just out of the game, who's clearly made for broadcasting and has made an unbelievably quick transition into it. And we've got another guy who is still very much in the game, but has the total and utter credibility as a player and as a coach as well, and I think as a combination or as a team that really is what excited me so much.' DB: 'We have had fun. And that tends to show in work and life, doesn't it?' MH: 'I knew it would be fun.' ROG: 'That saying is so apt – if you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.'


Daily Mirror
26-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Robbie Savage closing in on Forest Green Rovers job after turning down offers
Ex-Wales international Robbie Savage, guided Macclesfield to promotion from the Northern Premier League title and is now set to make his way up the football pyramid Robbie Savage is closing in on being appointed as Forest Green Rovers manager after the eco-warriors parted company with Steve Cotterill. Savage won promotion to the National League North in his first season as a head coach, at the age of 50, with born-again Macclesfield last season, smashing every club record for points, goals, clean sheets and wins. The former Wales international, who captained four Premier League clubs, is believed to have turned down two offers from clubs at least two divisions higher than the Silkmen last year. And although he agreed a new two-year contract with Macclesfield after clinching the phoenix club's third promotion in four years, Forest Green owner Dale Vince is determined to land his No.1 target. Savage and businessman Rob Smethurst relaunched the Silkmen five years ago after the club had gone bust and took them on an astonishing magic carpet ride of three promotions and a play-off final in four years. During the first three of those campaigns Savage was director of football, hiring and firing managers but taking charge of all the player recruitment. He admitted last September that he would effectively have to sack himself if he was not an instant success as head coach - but Macclesfield stormed to the Northern Premier League title collecting 109 points and scoring 109 goals. Forest Green director of football Mark Bowen is a former Wales team-mate who was also Mark Hughes' assistant when Savage joined Birmingham and Blackburn. Cotterill's departure from the New Lawn paves the way for a fresh start in the Gloucestershire hillside and Savage's appointment could be rubber-stamped early next week. Vince, who was impressed by the promise of Savage's son, Charlie, on loan at Forest Green two seasons ago has a high regard for the BBC 606 phone-in host's work ethic. Savage has always been determined not to launch his managerial career at Premier League or Championship level as a matter of entitlement and is thought to prefer climbing the ladder incrementally to earn his stripes. Forest Green missed out narrowly on the National League play-off final last month, beaten on penalties in a semi-final thriller against Southend. But that was not enough for Vince, who felt they were capable of regaining EFL status at the first attempt after a disastrous year when former Watford striker Troy Deeney's reign lasted only 29 days as head coach. Deeney oversaw vastly improved performances, if not results, but he was forced out after hammering his players in the media following a home defeat by Harrogate. Vince, however, has not been put off hiring another big personality - and the relentless winning machine Savage built at Macclesfield was always going to lead to offers from clubs higher up English football's ladder.


Wales Online
13-06-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star
Ex-Wales rugby captain's business settles claim from former star Exclusive: A settlement has been reached in the case brought by Leigh Davies against a multimillion-pound water supplier Former Wales captain and WRU chairman David Pickering A water supplier run by ex-Welsh Rugby Union chairman David Pickering has settled a court claim from former Wales rugby international Leigh Davies. The retired centre had accused Hydro Industries of cheating him out of more than £125,000. Mr Davies, 48, earned 21 caps and played for teams including Scarlets and Ospreys. Mr Pickering, 64, was a flanker who captained Wales before managing the national team and then spending 11 years as WRU chairman. He is chairman of Hydro, a Carmarthenshire-based firm which provides drinking water in various countries and last year had more than £5.2m in net assets. In his claim, which was due to go to trial at Cardiff county court, Mr Davies accused Hydro of "deception" over Middle-Eastern business deals and said he no longer trusted Mr Pickering or the other directors. But we understand a settlement has been reached and the claim withdrawn. Hydro told WalesOnline: 'The proceedings have been stayed on the basis of confidential terms that neither party is free to disclose or discuss." The business previously made headlines in 2021 having secured millions in UK Government funding after donating £71,000 to the then-ruling Tory party. One of its directors is journalist Guto Harri, who was a top aide to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Wales centre Leigh Davies tackled by Tom Takau of the USA in 1999 (Image: David Rogers /Allsport ) Article continues below Mr Davies' claim – first revealed by WalesOnline in January – alleged that he got to know people involved in Hydro after helping one of its directors with fitness training. Mr Davies allegedly introduced the directors to a friend he knew from charity rugby events in Dubai. That friend was a "close business partner and friend with the royal family in the United Arab Emirates", the filing alleged. According to Mr Davies' claim his friend was "looking for a water purification company to assist with numerous projects in the UAE, Gulf states, and surrounding countries". It added: "Following my initial introduction the potential for business grew and it became clear early on that there was massive potential for large contracts." The Neath-born star claimed he signed an agreement with Hydro's directors in 2013 that would secure him 5% commission on any orders he introduced or helped negotiate. The following year Hydro announced what it described as a "£20m joint-venture deal" with Abu Dhabi business group M Partners for a water treatment project in the UAE. Mr Davies saw himself as an "essential and continuing" link between Hydro and companies in the Gulf states. He said he represented Hydro at meetings and at corporate and charity events. "Hydro could not have existed, searched for new business opportunities, or entered into any new business contracts without my introductions," the filing alleged. It continued: "In 2016 Hydro wanted me to sign a new and different contract. This new contract would reduce my commission from 5% to 1%. Naturally this concerned me a little so I arranged to meet Wayne Preece [the chief executive officer of Hydro]." Mr Davies and Mr Preece allegedly met at the Morgans Hotel in Swansea. "We discussed the new agreement and discussed all the new business opportunities that had been presented to Hydro since my introductions," the claim read, adding that "lots" of potential contracts were mentioned including one with UAE waste management company Bee'ah. "I did not write any of them down as I took Wayne at his word that my interests and commission would be protected. I also believed I had some legal protection at that stage pursuant to the 2013 sales agreement. "On that evening Wayne Preece provided me with a 'forecast document' which suggested I would be receiving significant commission payments that would steadily increase over the next five years and then settle out resulting in a significant annual amount that would be life-changing for me. Even though my commission would be reducing from 5% to 1% even at 1% the forecast suggested I would be earning around £250,000 a year for the next 20 years from my commission payments. Naturally I now deeply regret trusting Wayne Preece on that night. "A few months later I signed the new 1% commission agreement in good faith. Unbeknown to me at the time negotiations were already ongoing and close to conclusion on the Bee'ah contract. I now know that the Bee'ah contract was signed on June 26, 2016, only a few weeks after I signed the 1% agreement. Had I still been entitled under my old contract at 5% I would have been entitled to a payment in excess of £125,000. I feel I was misled at the time but was not troubled as I had been assured that my 1% agreement would still bring me huge dividends. "Knowing what I now know it is clear that Hydro were becoming well aware of the potential for business in the UAE and Gulf states and wider and wanted to reduce my commission from 5% to 1% and then actually had no intention to pay any commission, in fact wanted to remove me completely." The claim accuses Hydro of "deception" in allegedly failing to disclose the Bee'ah contract. "I was told by Wayne Preece that there were lots of contracts 'in the pipeline' but nothing had actually been signed yet and that no monies had been received by Hydro as yet. This clearly was not the case and Bee'ah was close to signing and monies were about to be received, some of which I was entitled to." The claim was for £28,000 based on Hydro's alleged failures to pay 1% commission on deals after Mr Davies signed the 2016 contract but it also called for a ruling on whether he was entitled to 5%. When we inquired about the settlement Mr Davies declined to comment. Hydro, based in Llangennech, had net assets of £5,248,577 last year, £10,523,965 the preceding year, and £12,647,257 the year before that. The firm specialises in water purification technology and in recent years has won contracts in Ecuador, Bangladesh, and Egypt. Article continues below


BBC News
21-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Man Utd players 'have to be hungrier to score'
Ex-Wales international Ashley Williams insists that Manchester United's players cannot complain about lack of service during the 1-0 defeat by Wolves on Sunday. Watch full highlights and analysis on Match of the Day 2
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
These are the cities most at risk from the Asteroid 2024 YR4 that could hit Earth, says NASA
The predicted flight path of Asteroid 2024 YR4, which is the size of Big Ben, will see it pass over some of the busiest cities in the world, according to the latest data from NASA. Scientists say that the impact risk corridor stretches eastwards from the Pacific Ocean, over South America, the Atlantic Ocean, Africa, the Middle East and into Asia. This will take the city killer over eight of the top 100 most populated cities in the world including Bogotá, Abidjan, Lagos, Khartoum, Mumbai, Kolkata and Dhaka. Scientists are tracking Asteroid 2024 YR4, which has the potential force of eight million tonnes of TNT, which is about 500 times more powerful than the Hiroshima atomic bomb. If it hit Earth, the impact could affect an area up to 50 kilometres (30 miles) wide, and NASA has also just upgraded the risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth in 2032 to 3.1 per cent, which is about a 1-in-32 chance, and the highest odds yet of collision. It's also the biggest extra-terrestrial threat we have had in more than two decades. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here READ MORE: Lewis Hamilton warned Ferrari fate already sealed as F1 title prediction speaks volumes READ MORE: Ex-Wales coach accused of wife's murder told court he 'couldn't keep lying' Bruce Betts, chief scientist of The Planetary Society, told AFP: "If you put it over Paris or London or New York, you basically wipe out the whole city and some of the environs." He added that the probability of this happening "will go to zero." NASA and other space agencies believe the asteroid is not a serious threat. NASA has already tested ways to change an asteroid's path. In 2022, its DART mission successfully moved an asteroid twice the size of 2024 YR4. China plans a similar test in 2027 on a smaller asteroid. Two UN-supported teams are studying the asteroid's path to see if action is needed. Scientists will continue observing it until April, after which it will be too faint to see until June 2028. NASA is also using its largest telescope to learn more about the asteroid's size, path, and makeup. Asteroid 2024 YR4 was first spotted on 27 January 2025 by the ATLAS system in Chile. ATLAS, which is funded by NASA and managed by the University of Hawaii's Institute for Astronomy, uses several telescopes around the world to monitor space objects. The sighting was reported to the Minor Planet Centre, an international hub for tracking small bodies in space. At the moment, 2024 YR4 is travelling away from Earth, so it can be monitored by scientists through April, but it will become too faint to view again after this until June 2028, when it returns to Earth's vicinity. A spokesperson for NASA said: "As more observations of the asteroid's orbit are obtained, its impact probability will become better known. It is possible that 2024 YR4 will be ruled out as an impact hazard, as has happened with many other objects that have previously appeared on the NASA JPL asteroid risk list. "It is also possible its impact probability will continue to rise. The latest data will continue to be made available via NASA's automated Sentry page. Updates will also continue to be posted on NASA's planetary defence blog."