Not at his best: Mike Phillips
Wales interim head coach Rob Howley has highlighted the form of scrum-half Mike Phillips as crucial to the defending champions' Six Nations campaign.
Phillips struggled for consistency during the November Tests and Howley admits that the Bayonne number nine needs to recapture top form if Wales hope to defend their crown.
"Mike is back playing to some level - he needs to get to the next level, to where he was," said former Wales scrum-half Howley after naming his squad.
"He has gone away to France, and I have tried to give him some stats in terms of the brand and type of rugby they are playing.
"When he plays for us, he makes 60 or 70 passes a game. In France, it's 20-25, so that puts pressure on his conditioning. Mike has been told.
"On his day, when he is fit and confident, Mike is probably one of the best number nines in the northern hemisphere. We need to get Mike back to his best.
"He has got pressure (in the Wales squad) with Tavis Knoyle and Lloyd Williams, but you would like to think, if Mike is back to his best, he's got a huge part to play in our performances in the Six Nations."
Comments
kenttaff says...
some good threads here. i agree we dont need him in the welsh team now. that brand of 2-3 years ago has been well sussed and found wanting now. tavis knoyle is the man, a scrum half is all about the pass surely? and faletau has better hands than phillips he just too slow at test level
Posted 17:56 18th January 2013
APV1 says...
I've never really "got" MP - not really seen him to be all that good. Yes, he has flashes of brilliance, but there are plenty of others in the world who are better. His discipline is an issue and he always seems to be picking scraps with the pack. He seems like a bit of a frustrated back row to me, without the bulk to back it up.
His service can be slow and I just don't see him as world class. Never have.
No idea why, but I've just never warmed to the guy and never seen what others must see.
But I'm a back-row forward, so what do I know, eh?
Posted 14:53 17th January 2013
BokAvenger says...
I think he still has nightmares about Bakkies Botha complimenting him on his beautiful blue eyes
Posted 19:31 16th January 2013
Spartacus says...
So Rob Howley has got his scapegoat lined up then!
Posted 17:13 16th January 2013
Heathy says...
Phillips on his day and when 'on song' is always a handful. However, as the comments have been made, his service has always been questionable (slow!). Behind a good pack he is like an extra back row so there is plenty of 'go forward'. Wales have been strong up front and in the set piece where he has shone. However, Wales of late have been dreadful and struggled and so therefore has Phillips. He's been exposed a bit as he's rather one dimensional. Bayonne have also been struggling and therefore, again, so has Phillips. Why he went to Bayonne is beyond me (money clearly) as this has not improved his rugby at all. Another factor is his off field discipline as this also hasn't been good. All in all there are better scrum halves. I'm afraid he is nowhere near the legendary JVDW by some way. Now, HE was one of the greatest ever. On current form, Phillips may be lucky and make the bench for Wales.
Posted 14:12 16th January 2013
melkdave says...
Been saying for quite sometime that Phillips isnt performing,and now his struggling to cemet the SH posision in France.At his best his a potent weapon ,but atm imohis just no where near a threat.
Posted 13:56 16th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
I think he wants to be Joost Van Der Westhuisen. He's got a fair way to go to emulate the legendary Springbok no,9 though. Yes both players run the ball from the base of the ruck / scrum , but Phillips' service is what lets him down and thats what howley is elluding to with his stats. Joost knew when to run and did it to devastarting effect. Phillips goes too often with little gain. Defences know he's coming and his service is so slow they know they can watch him and have time to react to the pass. I think Phillips is one of the best weapons opposing sides have to beat wales with. Oh, and don't forget to wind him up, which is really easy to do. Get him going and Eli Walker is never see the ball, especially with the bosh brothers at 12 and 13. The Welsh attack is not particularly frightening and their win loss ratio backs that statement up.
Posted 13:45 16th January 2013
MunsterRedArmy says...
@black47: True! An incredible player, I'd say he's right after Fourie Du Preez on the list of top scrum halves in the world. He's always interesting to watch.
Posted 13:43 16th January 2013
black47 says...
A great player when in form. Has broken Irish hearts on many an occasion
Posted 13:24 16th January 2013