Sports Mole: Behind-the-scenes with ESPN

Last month Sports Mole was offered the chance to follow ESPN at Twickenham as they exclusively aired the Aviva Premiership final between Harlequins and Leicester Tigers.

The company has quickly become synonymous with ground-breaking coverage thanks to their unique interaction with fans on matchday as well as expanding their operation into the world of 3D.

So, without hesitation, we went along to get a feel for the mammoth effort put in to show 80 minutes of live rugby to the nation.

It's two hours before kick off and the backstage paddock is abuzz with people frantically running about. A number of trucks are lined up; production vans sit alongside technical cabins while crew members armed with clipboards bark instructions at each other in between gulps of coffee. The excitement ahead of English rugby's biggest game of the season is already in the air.

"In live television, anything can happen," says Executive Producer Andrew Hornett. "We recently had it with Fabrice Muamba (ESPN broadcast the FA Cup tie which saw the Bolton midfielder suffer a cardiac arrest on the pitch), but there are also times when something great can happen. I've worked on other types of shows before but live sport is definitely where I want to be."

We're guided through a narrow gap between two of the trucks and led up a flight of stairs into the production gallery. With over 60 screens in front of them, a team of six are going through their rehearsals. The director sits in the middle of the dark room and is somehow able to communicate with his team while keeping his concentration on each monitor. 'Multi-tasking' doesn't even cover it.

On one of the larger screens we see presenter Mark Durden-Smith prepping himself for the live show. "In my opinion, he's the best sports presenter on television," says Hornett. "The preparation he puts in is incredible. He'll work on his script for a full week beforehand. A totally natural talent."

Durden-Smith is sat alongside pundits Austin Healey, Ben Kay and Mark Cueto in ESPN's unique outdoor studio. Set away from the stadium, the pop-up booth which travels everywhere with the show is there to get fans more involved in the event. However, it's not without the occasional problem.

"Sometimes you get fans that do something stupid," explains Hornett. "For example there was one time when a fan managed to get up and slap Mark (Durden-Smith) on the head in a jokey way." While many of the supporters are enjoying themselves there is one man at the front who, we're informed, has been "hydrating" himself since midday. What's more incredible is the production team's willingness to keep him there and even put the camera on him. Durden-Smith is even sharing in some playful banter.

As 3pm draws closer we're whisked into the expansive bowl of Twickenham. Edging down a set of steps we squeeze through a narrow gate and into the commentary gantry. It's organised chaos as six miles' worth of cable is tangled around yet more monitors. Casually standing in the middle of it all, sipping his coffee, is Nick Mullins.

Having joined the company in 2009, Mullins is now ESPN's voice of rugby. With him today, as ever, is an intensely detailed set of notes for the game. "If I don't need to use them then that means it's been a good match," he says. "But there have been some matches when I haven't had enough of them..." Having commentated on sporting events for more than 25 years, are there still nerves on a day like today? "Yes, of course. When I commentated on last year's World Cup final I was shaking as it entered the final stages. There are some commentators who don't sound surprised at anything that happens in the game and that's a shame."

I'm about to ask another question but ex-England hooker Brian Moore appears and begins talking to Mullins. Any other person and I may have politely pointed out that I was in mid-conversation, but this is Brian Moore and I decide to keep my mouth firmly shut.

After a riveting first half, we pay a visit to the 3D truck. Despite fewer cameras and crew used, a huge amount of effort is still put in by the production team. Again, a director is in the middle of it all, spinning plates as every second of air time needs to be filled.

Back inside the stadium and Harlequins have wrapped up a famous victory against Leicester. However, the final whistle by no means signals the end of the day's work for the ESPN crew. From our vantage point we're able to see the indefatigable Durden-Smith hurry out of the tunnel to take his place at the hastily-erected table pitchside. Runners escort guests towards the table for interviews while makshift pieces of set are hurriedly moved here and there.

It will take the team a number of hours to get everything out of there and you wouldn't bet against those behind the cameras having done more legwork than those on the pitch this afternoon.