I don’t think Neil has been any worse than Browne or Rigg but you’re right. He’s the captain and you expect your captain to be able to take the game by the scruff of the neck, or at least good captains can. They’re barking orders and leading by example etc and Neil just isn’t that player for me it was a token gesture giving him the armband.
Re the commentary, remember it’s just two idiots talking. I think we should take it as a complement that commentators are almost treating our opponents as underdogs nowadays. Comes with the territory of being top.