Ollie Phillips: Marcus Smith can be the catalyst for a new England team October 15, 2021 Marcus Smith is the name on everyone’s lips as Eddie Jones prepares to name his England squad for the Autumn Nations Series on Monday. The Harlequins fly-half was on fire on his first Premiership appearance of the season last Friday, coming off the bench to help Quins surge from 21-0 down to beat Bristol 52-24. [...]
Ollie Phillips: Quins are tough to beat when they’re on a roll October 8, 2021 Harlequins and Bristol love playing expansive, broken-field rugby but I think the Bears will continue their rocky start when the teams meet tonight. Last year’s Premiership semi-final between the two sides was the best game of the season, and definitely the best comeback I’ve seen in my life. Quins and Bristol specialised in chucking the [...]
Ollie Phillips: Steve Borthwick succeeding Eddie Jones is written in the stars September 30, 2021 Two of the most likely contenders to succeed Eddie Jones as England coach face off on Saturday when Steve Borthwick’s Leicester Tigers host Mark McCall’s Saracens. Speculation over who could get the job when Jones departs in 2023 resurfaced this week when England forwards coach Richard Cockerill ruled himself out of the running. Borthwick and [...]
Ollie Phillips: Eddie Jones’s England reboot is exciting and long overdue September 24, 2021 Two years out from a World Cup you expect Eddie Jones to make big calls and do some culling, and the result, announced this week, is an exciting England autumn training squad. Of the new faces, Newcastle Falcons youngster Adam Radwan is one of those I’m looking forward to watching get a chance. His footwork [...]
Ollie Phillips’ Premiership season preview: Harlequins vulnerable, Saracens favourites, and Leicester and Sale to join Exeter in play-offs September 17, 2021 The new Premiership Rugby season has a lot to live up to after the fireworks of the last campaign but I think there’s reason to believe it will match or even better it. Removing relegation last term allowed every team to play without fear and the result was enterprising, adventurous rugby and perhaps the most [...]
Ollie Phillips: Lions series win would be heroic in the circumstances but momentum has swung behind South Africa before deciding Test August 6, 2021 As the British and Irish Lions prepare for their series-deciding third Test, it feels like all momentum has swung behind South Africa. Fair play to the Springboks; they nailed their game plan in the second match last weekend. It was set-piece perfection allied to a moment of magic from Handre Pollard, whose cross-field kick set [...]
Ollie Phillips: Rassie Erasmus rant shows how huge second Test is – and that Lions coach Warren Gatland has got under his skin July 30, 2021 If you needed any further proof of how big the second Test between the British and Irish Lions and South Africa is this weekend, look no further than Rassie Erasmus. The Springboks’ director of rugby this week issued a bizarre, hour-long video rant about refereeing decisions in the Lions’ first-Test win, even hinting he could [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Ollie Phillips: Why I fancy Sale and Bristol to progress in Premiership semi-finals June 18, 2021 The Premiership Rugby semi-finals this weekend are a fascinating collision of contrasts – and I can’t wait. While Exeter and Sale will look to knock 10 bells out of each other, Bristol and Harlequins promises a feast of fast, flowing rugby. And in Sale and Quins we have two teams transformed by coaching changes this [...]