Ollie Phillips: I still think they’re poor, but belligerent Wales can beat fragile England – even without a Principality Stadium crowd February 26, 2021 Don’t underestimate the magnitude of Wales v England in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday. With France’s position uncertain due to a Covid-19 outbreak, this is a big match in the context of the title and, for Wales, possibly a Grand Slam. And anyway, this is Wales v England: a great clash full of [...]
How do sports teams and competition organisers defend against the threat of Covid-19 outbreaks? February 25, 2021 The Six Nations this weekend has been thrown into disarray with the postponement of France’s fixture with Scotland on Sunday after another French player has tested positive for Covid-19. At present a total of 11 players and three staff members in the squad have now tested positive and, due to the close contact proximity of [...]
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, [...]
France v Scotland Six Nations match postponed after further Covid-19 cases in Les Bleus squad February 25, 2021 This weekend’s scheduled France v Scotland Six Nations fixtures has been postponed, organisers have confirmed. Further Covid-19 cases in Les Bleus squad emerged this morning, causing the entire squad to be put into isolation. That move gave Six Nations little choice but to call off the match, which was due to be played on Sunday [...]
France suffer Six Nations title setback as third member of coaching staff tests positive for Covid-19 February 17, 2021 Six Nations favourites France’s Covid-19 crisis has deepened after a third member of the coaching staff tested positive. Assistant coach William Servat’s diagnosis followed that of head coach Fabien Galthie and another unnamed non-playing staff member on Tuesday. All three have been ordered to self-isolate for seven days, while Les Bleus’ playing squad have been [...]
Ollie Phillips’ Six Nations predictions: England to bully poor Italy; impressive Ireland won’t be pushovers for France; Scotland too good for Wales February 12, 2021 It’s not as if we didn’t see the problems coming with England before their defeat to Scotland in last week’s Six Nations opener. Physicality is the minimum requirement at international rugby but you need more than that. England had lacked ingenuity. And, sure enough, Scotland totally outfoxed the holders at in every area of the [...]
Sport on TV: How to watch India v England, the Six Nations, Liverpool v Man City and Super Bowl LV in the UK February 6, 2021 What better way to beat the lockdown blues than by gorging on a feast of sport on TV? Answer: none. And this weekend’s fare is the most abundant yet this year, with an England Test series on terrestrial TV, the first round of the Six Nations, a Premier League title showdown between Liverpool and Manchester [...]
Ollie Phillips: Improving France will dethrone Six Nations favourites England – and empty stadiums will help Les Bleus February 6, 2021 It’s easy to see why England have been installed as the favourites for the Six Nations, which starts this weekend. But they aren’t my tip. Yes, England are the holders, having prevailed in an interrupted 2020 championship that finally concluded in October. They then won the Autumn Nations Cup, beating France in the process – [...]
Head coach Eddie Jones among three England rugby staff forced to self-isolate ahead of Six Nations January 20, 2021 England’s preparations for the Six Nations have been further disrupted by head coach Eddie Jones needing to self-isolate for 10 days. Jones and attack coach Simon Amor must isolate as they have been deemed close contacts of forwards coach Matt Proudfoot, who has tested positive for Covid-19. It follows the news that skills coach Jason [...]
How Covid is affecting sport in 2021: Will Premier League, Tokyo Olympics, England’s Test series in Sri Lanka and the Lions tour go ahead? January 5, 2021 The first wave of Covid-19 saw professional sport grind to a halt as countries across the world imposed lockdowns. With cases on the rise again, particularly in England, some sports – including football, rugby union, boxing and snooker – have already been disrupted. So how is elite sport in 2021 being affected by the pandemic [...]