Commentators’ use of metaphors for violence must end

ONE of the pleasures of the summer internationals were the calm and informative commentary performances by John Beattie and Chris Patterson on BBC Scotland.

The contrast with the overhyped and cliched delivery we have come to expect from the likes of Sky duo Miles Harrison and the frankly embarrassing Mark Robson was wonderfully refreshing.

The language employed by the last named is staggeringly inappropriate at times, and one wonders about the absence of editorial control.

Some examples from the final Test between Australia and Ireland in Sydney: “The skinning of the vulnerable marsupials.

“The big dog and the bigger dog have been released from the kennels.”

“A big hit from Bundi Aki. He loves hitting human beings as hard as he can.”

“Just when you want to drive that little stiletto between the ribs.”

“Johnny Sexton’s torso must be like mincemeat at the moment.”

“It’s wave after wave of gold blood just now,” – I rewound twice, just to make sure he used the word ‘blood’.

A fondness for metaphors of violence has been an enduringly unpleasant feature for too long now.

Another example from earlier this season was “a Tsunami of tries” – those kill people, lots of them.