RANKED | Five most irritating telly experts from Austin Healey to Stuart Barnes

Drum roll please, as we count down Britain’s most irritating TV rugby union pundits…

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The former Munster and Irish forward makes no bones about his Irish bias.   The man who missed the 2009 Lions tour thanks to a ban for gouging, certainly looks at things through one eye from the commentary box.

Can be as dank and drizzly as the weather north of the border. At times even the ITV adverts can offer a little bit more enjoyment than a piece of half-time analysis on the BBC from the 23-times capped former Dark Blue scrum-half. Does offer a little bit of analysis but more often than not it’s a case of stating the obvious.

It seemed unlikely when he retired that Healey would manage to become even more annoying as a pundit than he was as a player. But, somehow, he’s achieved it. Great job. Do love his Twitter spats though…

The former England outside-half and Sky Sports commentator can often be found not just winding up fans but players too! He does, every so often, throw out some epic lines while on commentary.

“Australia without Pocock is like Hamlet without the prince,” is a particular favourite.

A man who drives many (especially outside England) to distraction and has been known to turn the airwaves shockingly blue on more than one occasion. Whilst he no doubt he has to focus on England more than other nations due to producer pressure and the demographics of the audience, his ability to turn conversation back to the Red Roses during matches when they aren’t even playing is legendary.