Pundit Barclay makes his URC play-off predictions - no Lions

John Barclay. www.inpho.ie

Premier Sports pundit John Barclay has a key guiding principle when it comes to voicing his opinions about the game.

“I have a pretty basic rule,” reveals the former Scotland captain.

“I would never say anything on air that I wouldn’t be happy saying to someone’s face.”

Barclay has been speaking in the wake of Premier Sports extending their agreement to provide live coverage of all 151 BKT URC games in the UK for another four years taking their partnership with the competition past the decade mark.

He has worked for the broadcasters since 2020 and says Premier Sports has played a big part in his transition from player to pundit.

“They have been very important for me,” said the 76-time capped ex-flanker.

“I’ve had a very good relationship with the guys at Premier.

“They gave me an opportunity when I retired from playing and it’s given me a lot of confidence doing it week-in week-out.

“It gives you a totally different perspective of the hard work that goes into this side of the business.

“I’ve been doing it for five years now and I’ve covered a lot of games. As it’s gone on, I’ve had a bit of freedom to push the coverage in a certain direction.

“There is a lot of trust involved in that and I like to think I have repaid that trust to them.”

Barclay - who had spells with Glasgow, the Scarlets and Edinburgh - added: “Some players can struggle a bit when they retire because there is nothing that replaces playing but having that closeness to the game week-in, week-out gives me that fix of adrenalin.

“The thing you miss most is being around the team and there is a team element to working behind the scenes and doing media stuff. There is a chemistry and a way in which we understand how each other works.”

In terms of how he approaches the job, he says: “If you are not doing it fairly and honestly, you are not doing it properly.

“There are times when you have to be very up front and brutal. There are occasions when you have to say someone is not playing well. You have to say it as it is. That’s professional sport. If I don’t say it, someone else will say it.

“But generally, I would always look to focus on the positives, similar to when I was a player.

“I also think covering rugby should be fun. It should be light-hearted, while giving you all the detail and access you want.”

As for how the URC has developed during his time as a Premier Sports pundit, he says: “There has certainly been a lot of change, with the South African teams coming in, the new format and multiple different winners, which, for me, is the most encouraging side of the competition.

“For a long time, Leinster were the out and out clear favourites but Munster, the Stormers and Glasgow have all won it in recent years. So I think the quality is great.

“Players want to play in big games in big stadiums and that’s what the BKT URC has delivered over the last number of years. It’s also engaged with fans very well which is important. So, as a whole, it’s very encouraging.”

Turning to the battle for the play-offs - with four rounds of matches to go - he said: “I think it’s inevitable it will go down to the wire, down to the last weekend.

“It’s hard to see how it doesn’t, given the table and the remaining fixtures. It’s so tightly stacked.

“You are commentating on games where if teams lose they can be 14th and if they win they can be fifth or six.

“That middle section from fourth to 14th is so densely packed. That, for me, is a good sign of the competition.

“No-one is going anywhere expecting to win now. Every weekend there are upsets. It’s very, very competitive.

“At this stage, one slip up and you are kind of done.”

So who does he think will finish in the top eight and progress to the play-offs?

“You’ve got the top four of Leinster, Glasgow, Bulls and Sharks who look pretty nailed on,” he replied.

“I think Munster will stay in there, while the Stormers have their last four games at home, so I expect them to jump up. Then I’m going for Edinburgh and Cardiff to complete the top eight.”

Looking at this weekend’s Judgement Day Welsh double header at the Principality Stadium, he said: “I think Cardiff will sneak it against the Ospreys and the Scarlets will win well against the Dragons.”