Room 101: Dan Bowden – Leicester centre

1. Commentator cock-ups
It really winds me up when sports commentators fail to correctly pronounce a player’s name. The big second rower from Northampton, Samu Manoa, always seems to get called Manu Samoa for some reason. How hard can it be to get it right when it’s written down in front of them on the team sheet? Considering he is of Tongan descent I’d imagine it doesn’t go down particularly well with him!
TRP verdict:  You win Samu, you lose some…on this occasion you’re in!
2. Scrums
I hate scrums. I reckon they should become like Rugby League scrums; that would make it better for all of us. We must waste at least 15 minutes a game waiting for re-sets. I find myself standing there and thinking about what I am going to have for dinner or wondering who’s won X-factor and stuff like that. The forwards aren’t really that bothered if the ball doesn’t come out your way; they just want to hug each other and have a little push.
TRP verdict:  Rugby League scrums are a joke…you’re out!
3. Taxes
The amount you get taxed in the UK is unbelievable. Back home in New Zealand income tax is capped at 30% but over here it can go up to 50% if you’re among the higher earners. I’d like to know where all the money goes because it doesn’t seem to be spent on road improvements or other useful things like that. You still see roads full of potholes and there’s very little in the way of lighting on long stretches of the motorway. I thought that sort of thing would be pretty standard. I’d like to see some of that money spent on helping homeless people; there are still way too many people spending nights out on the streets.
TRP verdict:  (tax) credit where it is due…you’re in again!