If we were sitting on a little island away from the UK, we’d be considered outstanding in what we do

RTE’s Head of Sport Ryle Nugent on his experiences as a match commentator, the challenges imposed by an event in the wee small hours and some of the broader issues affecting the national broadcaster.

What was your first live commentary?

“THE very first commentary I did was in 1999 when the World Cup was here (in Ireland) and we had an obligation to produce a commentary for the world feed. It wasn’t live in Ireland but it was in Romania against Georgia. I thought I would never, ever get my head wrapped around it. I was petrified. Then my first ever live game was England against Fiji in the 1999 World Cup quarter-final (play-off) at Twickenham and they had Tikomaimakoga, Vunibaka and Raiwalui. This time around, when you get to the quarters, onwards I’ll hopefully just be dealing with the South Africans and New Zealanders. You see a lot of these guys week in week out in the Pro12, Heineken Cup or Super 15 anyway.”