Veteran voice of Cup rugby

By ALAN PERROTT

If it's Rugby World Cup time, it must be time for Keith Quinn to get ready for another stint behind the microphone.

Only the best rugby players have appeared at three Cup tournaments, but for Quinn, this will be his fifth on the trot.

"I'm very excited about it, obviously," he said. "It's what I suppose I've made some kind of notoriety from, if not reputation, so I'm very pleased to be doing it.

"I'm expecting an exciting World Cup. It's an expanded tournament, the All Blacks are playing well and I'll be working with good people."

Television New Zealand will broadcast 42 of the 48 World Cup matches live and free to air between October 10 and November 22.

The remaining six, all featuring minnows such as Georgia, Uruguay and Namibia, will be shown in full but as delayed broadcasts.

Cup commentaries will be shared between teams from TVNZ, Australia's Channel 7 and Fox Sports and Mnet from South Africa.

Quinn is scheduled to cover 22 matches, including 15 pool games, so he is getting to grips with the team list of the "Lelos", the Georgian team who boast such tongue-trippers as winger Makho Urjukashvili and centre Tedo Zibzibadze.

He's also brushing up on his rugby trivia - those inconsequential personal details Quinn has always splashed through his commentaries and which have become his trademark.

The TVNZ commentary team will feature Quinn and a team of co-hosts including former All Black coach John Hart, former All Blacks Grant Fox, Jeff Wilson, Gary Whetton and Richard Loe and former test referee Colin Hawke.

Quinn is looking forward to working with new boys Wilson and Hawke.

He has heard some of Wilson's radio work and believes he has the potential to become very good.

Hawke will provide expert analysis of the rulings from the men with the whistles.

"I feel that referees have not always been getting a fair go recently from some commentators," said Quinn.

No names of course, but are your ears burning, Murray Mexted?

Don't expect any changes in the classic Quinn style that described Jonah trampling his way over a few hapless Brits as "oh ... oh ... oh ... LOMU!".

"I listen to some commentators these days, especially what's coming out of Australia in rugby league, and it's almost like they're doing radio. It just happens to be over the top of pictures.

"I like to wait until the crowd has finished cheering a great play before talking about it.

"I won't be changing my style because I've been doing it for too long."

Quinn already has a few Cup predictions.

He's picking Argentina to topple Australia in pool play, although he says the Aussies will go on to meet the All Blacks in one semifinal.

England and France will play in the other semi, and the English will go on to lose to the ABs in the final. Simple.

Rising stars? Put a ring around All Black speed merchant Joe Rokocoko - "I always believed he would succeed after the way he came through on the sevens circuit" - Springbok first-five Derick Hougaard and French fullback Clement Poitrenaud.