Viewers had a good laugh during the ITV pre-match coverage of Ireland v Wales in the Six Nations.
If you watched the build-up to Ireland v Wales on ITV, you would have been doing well to suppress your laughter.
It wasn’t anything to do with the quality of the analysis. The vast majority of fans approved of the pregame analysis by Martin Bayfield, Shane Williams and Gordon D’Arcy. Nor was it anything to do with the production. That was also standard enough.
The source of the comedy was far more juvenile but undeniably funny. Simply put, booking a towering former forward alongside two diminutive ex-backs sparked a lot of giggles.
Have to say ITV have a good sense of humour – Martin Bayfield presents and they bring in Shane Williams and Gordon D’Arcy as guests! He looks like a kindergarten teacher!!! 😂😂😂
— Will Carling (@willcarling) February 24, 2018
Bayfield used to play lock forward for the Northampton Saints, Bedford Blues, England and the British and Irish Lions. He’s a big boy. The internet lists his height as a whopping 6 ft 10.
His fellow analysts, Williams and D’Arcy were never the tallest players on the field. The Irishman is % ft 9 while is a little shorter at 5 ft 7.
So when the trio were standing beside each other on the pitch, it was a sight to behold.
Come on, who paired Bayfield with Williams and D’Arcy? pic.twitter.com/lEQ9as4GOp
— Alex Shaw (@alexshawsport) February 24, 2018
Shane Williams & @Gordonwdarcy on commentary duty today with their Dad. #IREvWAL pic.twitter.com/Aejy1uenzO
— Niall McGarry (@MrNiallMcGarry) February 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/d4nbyrne/status/967396279256080384
Not for the first time, the masses have got some enjoyment from a really tall man standing beside a relatively small one.
https://twitter.com/niallhoult180/status/926560228530966528