Vodacom Bulls have chance at shock Champions Cup upset April 12, 2024 And then there were eight. The Investec Champions Cup round of 16 threw up a couple of incredible ties as those with hopes of lifting club rugby’s most prestigious trophy were tested to the nines. So with four tantalising quarter-final ties ahead of us here are my predictions for the quarter-finals, as well my outside [...]
Ollie Phillips: Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 predictions April 5, 2024 The Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 takes place this weekend and the competition is so difficult to call. There are all-French ties, all-English ties and a number of multinational matches to get the taste buds salivating. I am backing three English Premiership, two United Rugby Championship and three French Top 14 teams to progress [...]
Red Roses dominance is bad omen for women’s game (but they’re great to watch) March 29, 2024 Having beaten Italy 48-0 with 14 players in their Women’s Six Nations opener, it is fair to say England’s Red Roses continue to be one of rugby’s most dominant teams ever. Yes, that makes successive World Cup failures harder to stomach but the England national team are otherwise seemingly unstoppable. However, their impressive win in [...]
Ollie Phillips: England can take encouragement from Six Nations March 17, 2024 Our rugby columnist give his-team-by-team verdict on the Six Nations.
Six Nations: Beating France would be bigger than Ireland win March 15, 2024 England’s 23-22 win over Ireland last week was the best by the team since their 2019 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand. I have questioned head coach Steve Borthwick and his plan for the side on numerous occasions, and I don’t think one win against a brilliant Ireland saves him from criticism, but at the [...]
England need to replicate South Africa performance (but better) to beat Ireland in Six Nations March 8, 2024 This weekend against England at Twickenham, Ireland can move within one game of the Six Nations Grand Slam. If they achieve an unbeaten campaign in 2024 they’ll become the first team in the Six Nations era to win the Grand Slam in consecutive years. In their way is an England side who still claim to [...]
England rugby team could go rest of 2024 without win March 1, 2024 Having watched how England faded in the Calcutta Cup I do fear it could be one long year for fans of the Red Rose. Steve Borthwick’s luck started this year with back-to-back Test wins against Italy and Wales – who themselves are going through rebuilds of sorts. But after their loss to Scotland last weekend [...]
How do England beat Scotland at Murrayfield in Six Nations? February 23, 2024 Scotland have not been kind to England in the last couple of years and this weekend’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield gives the home side the chance of winning a fourth consecutive Calcutta Cup. But since the tournament expanded to include Italy in 2000, the 12 fixtures in Edinburgh have seen England win six to [...]
Ollie Phillips: England will solve defensive holes to beat Wales February 8, 2024 My prediction of an England Six Nations title is still on, just about. And I don’t see that being derailed this weekend against Wales. Wales didn’t actually play that badly against Scotland but I just don’t think they’ve got it in them to pull off an upset at Twickenham. When you look at their 23 [...]
‘Don’t laugh: England can win the Six Nations’ February 2, 2024 You’ll laugh at me when I say it – in fact you might disqualify me entirely from having opinions on rugby – but I genuinely believe that England have a viable path to this year’s Six Nations title. Hear me out: Steve Borthwick has a much-changed squad but he has, arguably, the most continuity out [...]
