That’s not to write off Sky’s hugely respected and long-time commentary box custodians, Grant Nisbett and Tony Johnson. “Nisbo” will call the All Blacks-Italy match in his Wellington hometown today and “T.J.” will call the All Blacks-Ireland match in Auckland next week.
Nisbett, 75, will also be on the All Blacks’ end-of-year northern tour; some insiders believe that might well be his final tour of duty after an incredible 350-plus test matches.
There seems little doubt that McTainsh is the heir apparent.
“It’s a massive honour going to South Africa. It’s a huge honour doing this job,” McTainsh told Media Insider.
“I’m very, very passionate about the game, about New Zealand sport in general and about seeing Kiwis do well on the world stage. I’m a sports journalist at heart. I’m a sports fan at heart.
“I grew up with Grant Nisbett, I grew up with T.J. and the others around the world … listening to those guys growing up, they were the influences for me in terms of wanting to get into this.”
He described Nisbett and Johnson as the “voices of my generation and guys I’ve looked up to”.
“They’ve all been really generous with their time. We’re all busy, but certainly earlier in my career, whenever I had a question or wanted to know how to go about something or get a few tips and things, both of those guys were really generous with their time.”
He also cited Ken Laban and Hamish McKay as big influences.
McTainsh has been in the media industry for almost two decades – firstly at MediaWorks as a journalist and news anchor, and then at Sky, originally as a producer, presenter and reporter.
He has been commentating sport and rugby at different levels (including NPC and Super Rugby) for the past six years, and came to the fore last year, when Johnson lost his voice shortly before the All Blacks-Springboks test at Eden Park.
With less than two hours to kickoff, McTainsh – who had been calling a Ranfurly Shield game from the Sky TV studios at Mt Wellington, 8km away – came off the bench.
For a match that might normally take two to three weeks’ preparation, McTainsh had less than an hour. As he said at the time: “I went upstairs to the commentary area, popped in, saw T.J. and just said, ‘I’m really, really sorry, mate’. He was amazing – class.”
His preparations for Christchurch last weekend were a little more orthodox.
“In terms of it being the first test at Te Kaha, it was a great occasion. My wife was actually in Christchurch with me for the weekend, and she said, as we were walking to the stadium for the game, ‘Oh, this has got a real European vibe to it – the city and the atmosphere’.”
He was more excited than nervous about the commentary, especially now with a few test matches under his belt, including that last-minute Eden Park appearance.
“We don’t call these French players very often, but we do see them playing in the Top 14 and in the Six Nations. I have a fair idea of them, but I did have to make a special phone call to a friend of mine who’s fluent in French to double-check a couple of names.
“But that was all par for the course. I certainly enjoyed it.”
He was also excited and intrigued about the All Blacks’ first outing under new coach Dave Rennie, a theme that ran through last week’s test. “To that end, the way they played on the night was fantastic.”
McTainsh will soon be packing his bags. He’s part of Sky TV’s commentary team heading to Glasgow for the Commonwealth Games, where he will be calling track cycling and swimming.
Then it’s on to South Africa and Baltimore for the All Blacks’ Greatest Rivalry Tour.
“When I got the call and was told that I was heading to South Africa, I was blown away. It’s obviously a massive tour for New Zealand, for the All Blacks.
“I just feel really, really honoured to have been entrusted with that responsibility.”
Editor-at-Large Shayne Currie is one of New Zealand’s most experienced senior journalists and media leaders. He has held executive and senior editorial roles at NZME including Managing Editor, NZ Herald Editor and Herald on Sunday Editor and has a small shareholding in NZME.