When the All Blacks line up to perform the Haka at Twickenham on Saturday, there will be more cameras on it than ever before – and not just because of Joe Marler.
TNT Sports are planning to ‘lift the shutters’ throughout the autumn series as it steps into international rugby for the first time.
They have secured better access to the changing rooms, on-pitch demonstrations, more cameras in the tunnel and pre-match interviews with the likes of England skipper Jamie George.
Before England kick off against New Zealand, they will run an extended 70-minute build-up and the Haka – despite Marler’s calls for it to be ‘binned’ – will be front and centre of the production.
‘The Haka is pure theatre,’ TNT’s executive rugby producer Gari Jenkins told Rugby Confidential. ‘It’s something people tune in for and there’s no getting away from that.
New Zealand’s Haka will be front and centre of TNT Sports’ coverage of the match vs England
England face the All Blacks at Twickenham on Saturday to kick off their Autumn Nations Series
TNT will have 28 cameras at Twickenham in a bid to enhance their coverage of the fixture
‘Over the years, when we’ve seen teams advance on the Haka, it’s been TV gold. Whether it’s Richard Cockerill standing up to Norm Hewitt, the French advancing in an arrow, the Irish doing an eight formation for Axel Foley.
‘They’re amazing moments in time. For people to say the haka should go, I think it’s a little bit naive. It’s something that’s very unique to rugby. We’re trying to engage new audiences and that’s one of the ways of doing that.
‘It’s important that we respect it. There are pretty strict protocols around covering hakas. The advantage we have is the sheer number of cameras we’ll have on the game.
‘We’ll have 28 cameras – more than ever before – at Twickenham. That includes a spider-cam, two cine-cams and a 30-foot techno-crane that was on top of the Raphael Hotel during the Olympics and has previously been used for NBA coverage. We’re allowed a camera on ground level in between England and the All Blacks that will grab some beautiful images.’
TNT Sports will be showing all 21 of the autumn internationals, featuring an army of pundits that includes Kiwis Justin Marshall and Sir John Kirwan for Saturday’s game with the All Blacks.
In a bid to drive up viewing figures, the production team are planning to increase promotion of their rugby coverage during Premier League shows to attract the ‘fair-weather’ audience to their coverage of the autumn series.
‘On Saturday, Ugo Monye will be working on the Newcastle versus Arsenal show before the rugby to signpost viewers over to England versus New Zealand,’ said Jenkins.
‘We’ve been trying to put rugby people with other sports, whether it’s Tom Aspinall chucking Chris Ashton on the mats, or Peter Crouch and Joe Cole trying their hand at rugby with Ben Kay.
Joe Marler has called for the Haka to be ‘binned’ unless the opposing team can reply to it
Ugo Monye will help signpost the rugby while working on Arsenal’s trip to Newcastle
TNT want to use internationals as a gateway to bringing fans to the Gallagher Premiership
‘We can’t stand still and rely on the old faithful. They’re still important to us but we want to attract fair-weather sports fans into rugby.
‘It’s no secret than when you broadcast international rugby the shutters come down quite heavily so a lot of work has been done in terms of building trust and getting them on board. Rugby in general has probably turned a corner with everything that’s gone in the last few years, various clubs going bust, and people see the bigger picture now.
‘We want those new fans to get stuck into international rugby, but also the Gallagher Premiership. When we’re talking about Marcus Smith, it will subtly be Marcus Smith of Harlequins and England, not just England.
‘We’ve got the advantage of being able to use the Premiership footage as analysis ahead of games. No broadcaster has been able to do that before. The BBC or ITV haven’t been able to show Marcus Smith’s best bits from his first six games for Harlequins so that’s a real feather in our cap.’
Toulon’s summer shopping list
Toulon are interested in signing Ireland star Robbie Henshaw when his contract expires next summer.
All Black centre Leicester Fainga’anuku is set to leave the Top14 club in July and Henshaw, 31, who has spent his entire career in Ireland, is on the shortlist to replace him.
The French big-spenders have also looked into buying Bundee Aki out of his contract at Connacht.
But another powerhouse centre in new Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu, whose brother Mosese is also now playing in Scotland, is expected to turn down lucrative offers from French clubs and English giants Harlequins to stay with Glasgow.
Toulon are interested in signing Ireland star Robbie Henshaw (pictured) as well as Bundee Aki
Kolbe’s big day
The Springboks did not miss out on celebrating Cheslin Kolbe’s birthday at their training camp in Jersey this week.
South Africa’s World Cup-winning winger turned 31 on Monday and a group of players took him out for dinner at the island’s Beach Club restaurant.
They asked the waiting staff to bring out a piece of birthday cake after their meal, with Siya Kolisi leading the rendition of happy birthday.
South Africa found time to celebrate Cheslin Kolbe’s (pictured) birthday, with Siya Kolisi leading th rendition of happy birthday
Borthwick to monitor development team
England A’s game against Australia next month is set to be broadcast on Premier Sports.
The fixture will be played the day after England’s Test with the Springboks, meaning Steve Borthwick is likely to be on hand to cast his eye over the development team.
Tickets are still available for the fixture at the Twickenham Stoop.
Steve Borthwick will likely be present for England A’s match against Austalia in November
Wales welcome press ahead of Autumn internationals
Warren Gatland’s Wales opened their doors ahead of their three autumn internationals by hosting a Super Bowl-style media day at their Vale of Glamorgan base on Wednesday.
All 35 of Gatland’s November playing squad were made available as they seek some positive coverage after losing each of their last nine Tests.
Gatland has admitted the last year has been ‘incredibly challenging’, but his team deserve credit for allowing the media unrivalled access as they look to return to winning ways.