This advice is dangerous and misguided. If you think rates will rise, don't be long duration. Holding to maturity does not insulate you from interest rate risk--you will certainly make nominal dollars, but in real terms, you will under-perform or even lose.
There are reasons to avoid bond funds (management fees, trading costs, tax implications), but this isn't one of them.
https://www.northerntrust.com/documents/commentary/investmen...