Ollie Phillips: I’m predicting a British and Irish Lions victory in the first Test – and the series – in South Africa July 23, 2021 I’m really intrigued by the upcoming British and Irish Lions Test series with South Africa, which starts this weekend. The Springboks are the world champions but have barely played together in the last 18 months because of Covid-19’s impact on sport. They are not totally wet behind the ears, of course, but any lack of [...]
British and Irish Lions Tour: Warren Gatland’s three big selection headaches ahead of first Test July 19, 2021 After months of concerns over whether the series would go ahead, the British and Irish Lions will finally face South Africa in the first Test in Cape Town on Saturday. Lions coach Warren Gatland has given all of his tourists a chance to impress and must now pick 23 men to face the world champions. [...]
Covid-19 outbreak in British and Irish Lions camp threatens tour match against Sharks and plunges tour deeper into doubt July 7, 2021 The British and Irish Lions have been hit by a Covid-19 case in their camp in South Africa. One unnamed member of the management tested positive in a round of testing carried out on Wednesday. He and four other people – two players and two staff – are isolating and the rest of the squad [...]
British and Irish Lions tour plunged into more chaos as tour match is axed and Covid cases continue in South Africa camp July 7, 2021 Fears are growing over the British and Irish Lions’ Test series in South Africa after a spate of Covid-19 cases hit both teams’ warm-up matches. The Lions were due to play the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday in their third tour match but that has now been postponed indefinitely after five Covid cases in their opponents’ [...]
Doubts resurface over British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa as country enters strict measures and Springbok trio test positive for Covid-19 June 28, 2021 The British and Irish Lions’ summer tour to South Africa has been plunged into fresh doubt just as the team is due to arrive in Johannesburg. The country’s president Cyril Ramaphosa has warned of a “massive resurgence” in Covid-19, with cases on course to overtake the peak of 2020. Three South Africa players tested positive [...]
Ollie Phillips: Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar have points to prove in historic Lions clash with Japan June 24, 2021 The British and Irish Lions kick off their summer against Japan this weekend and everything about it excites me. A home Lions match is a rare treat and the fact that 16,500 fans will be back at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon makes it even more special. A first ever match against a Japan side that [...]
Sam Simmonds and Jonny Hill named in British and Irish Lions squad for South Africa tour May 6, 2021 Warren Gatland has named Sam Simmonds, Jonny Hill and Bundee Aki in his British and Irish Lions squad for the tour of South Africa this summer. But despite expanding the party to 37 players, there is no place for Billy Vunipola, Kyle Sinckler, Johnny Sexton or Manu Tuilagi. Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will skipper [...]
Ollie Phillips: Why I think Owen Farrell could be left out of the British and Irish Lions squad April 29, 2021 Picking a British and Irish Lions squad is a tough task even at the best of times. You have to condense the very best from four nations into one 36-man party, taking into account not just rugby ability and form but also which players can fuse quickly and who will be good for morale on [...]
Premiership rugby clubs issue warning to British and Irish Lions chiefs over scheduling after reaching player release agreement April 27, 2021 Premiership clubs have taken a swipe at British and Irish Lions chiefs after finally signing off the release of their players for this summer’s tour of South Africa. England’s top-flight rugby teams were unhappy at the Lions scheduling a pre-tour warm-up match against Japan at Murrayfield on 26 June – the same day as the [...]
Week in Sportbiz: The end of the Tiger Effect? Plus Olympic bid shake-up, drinks all round, Lord Coe’s scare and Eddie Jones’s debt to Van Gaal February 25, 2021 Tiger Woods survived a serious car crash this week, to the immense relief of the sporting world. But it might not be such good news for the fabled Tiger Effect, to the consternation of golf’s broadcasters and advertisers. While Woods may yet defy the odds once more and return to the sport he has redefined, [...]