Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

 Rugby Commentary

It is always a delight to watch the replays of the ITM Cup games on Fiji TV. We get to see the skills of the rugby players who train on a much higher level than our local players. One of the beauty things in these games is the Pacific Island flavor that the Samoans, Tongans and Fijian bring to the games. They play exceptional games and it is such a pleasure to see the skills and craftiness of some of the players. We see blistering sped out wide and power in the front rows. We get to see block busting centers who mesmerise us with their footwork and ball skills. Versatile Sonny Bill Williams met crafty Tana Umaga in that game between Canterbury and Counties Manukau. It was proposed to be a cracker of a match with Sonny and Tana meeting up in midfield. Canterbury is a team that plays as a team.

I have to say that the commentators keep us in the loop with their delightful comments, witty remarks. Their knowledge of the game, the statistics and facts of players is superb. At each game the broadcasters bring in guest commentators like in that game between Counties Manuka and Canterbury they had Justine Marshal whose running commentary of break downs and what options the players had makes the game interesting. Their use of adjectives keeps me smiling throughout the game. They tell us what we don’t see and one thing they don’t do is to comment on the obvious. Like, “The half back has the ball and he is passing it to the number eight.” They give us a technical outlook on what was about to take place and with the guest rugby star on the commentary table, there is no boredom in the whole game. And they use conversational tones to call the game. And they don’t like they were speaking in tenor with sentences ending on a high vocal note like some TV presenters do. Makes me breathless. 

The Australians also have knack for keeping a game alive via their commentary. We can learn from them! Pity only Graham Eden has this ability.