Did former England hooker...

[BigMac]

and current Daily Telegraph columnist Brian Moore set 1a in this morning's Telegraph Crossword No 25,542?

For those who might have missed this gem:

Best of French achievement (6)

[kayakamina]

Unfortunately I think that England could be in for one on Saturday in Paris!

[sarumite]

Unfortunately, I think kayakamina's predicted defeat is all too likely to happen, but I'm trying to remain positive!

It would however be a major plus to watch the match without being subjected to the manic prattle of the aforesaid Brian Moore !! The rugby coverage and commentary when on Sky is streets ahead in my view.

[kayakamina]

Hear Hear !

[BigMac]

I'm still resisting the lure of Murdoch and do not have Sky at home - it's my excuse to go to the pub, too, but we'll pass over that!

I don't mind Moore's commentary - at least he calls it as he sees it and is not afraid of expressing an opinion. It's the other half of the double-act I can't stand: Eddie Butler. My word, it's like having to read one of his rambling reports in The Observer -- much like his back-row play in days of yore: almost promising great things but somehow,always, managing just to disappoint.

As for the results, well which France will turn up? The side that hammered Scotland or the one that turned out for the second half against Ireland?

My attention will, mainly, be drawn to the tea-time kick-off; at least the Triple Crown is stilll a possibility!

[sarumite]

I fully agree with your assessment of Eddie Butler, BigMac, and then of course there's the added irritation of Jonathan Davies who drones on and on when called upon to comment!!

I'm not normally inclined to be over-critical of such things, but these three drive me to despair at times, and I am tempted to turn off the sound, but then of course the background noise is also lost!

Will there ever be another to rival the imperious commentary of Bill McClaren, whose voice lured me to the small screen at an early age ... in my view he was rightly dubbed "The Voice of Rugby"?

[sarumite]

P.S. I assume you are an Irish supporter, bearing in mind your comments ref tea time and triple crown?? :O)

[BigMac]

Spot on with the affiliation, sarumite.

I'm not old enough to have heard Cliff Morgan do more than that Baa-baa's game, and he didn't do a great deal of commentary, but he could have been excellent.

I'm actually glad that McClaren finished - not because he was no good (far from it) but because he finished before becoming a parody of himself (cf. Peter Alliss!!).

Finally, I'm inclined to ascribe the Chinese view of music to commentators: it's the silences that are important.