Howley: Phillips has learned from his mistakes

Mar 13 2008 by Gareth Griffiths, South Wales Echo

WALES backs coach Rob Howley believes scrum-half Mike Phillips will keep his discipline on Saturday in the Grand Slam bid against France at the Millennium Stadium.

Phillips has been selected in the number nine jersey despite receiving a yellow card for dropping his knees on Irish prop Marcus Horan during the Triple Crown victory in Dublin.

Phillips is set to be targeted by the French, especially after he caught them by surprise two years ago with a barnstorming individual display.

But after speaking with the 25-year-old, Howley believes Phillips will repay the coaches’ faith in him after they resisted the temptation to include Dwayne Peel.

“Players will learn from their mistakes and that is what Mike has done,” said Howley, who worked with Phillips at the Cardiff Blues for two seasons.

“But we all know the sort character that Mike is, and we need to keep reaffirming what is needed.

“The biggest thing against Ireland was for us to display discipline.

“And Mike’s temperament in particular was under scrutiny, knowing what had gone on before in the Ospreys v Cardiff Blues EDF Cup semi-final with his clash with Justin Marshall.

“We felt that if the likes of David Wallace and Donnaca O’Callaghan wanted to upset and get stuck into us, they would go through Mike and we warned him temperament would be part of his game.

“Our discipline was worrying with two yellow cards and Mike was a part of that and he was disappointed.

“But the emotional control he showed when he went back on was admirable as he kept his focus.”

Warren Gatland said this week Phillips has the potential to become the world’s best scrum-half and Howley believes the Ospreys number nine is starting to fulfil his promise.

“Mike is a fantastic player and there is another 10 or 20 per cent left to come in his game,” added Howley.

“His ability to take the opposition back-row on and keep them honest is something everyone has spoken about and there is obviously a difference between him and Dwayne physically.

“But as well as his temperament and physicality, we are also asking tactical questions of him.

“It is about facilitating the team as a nine and Mike has done that well in the games he has played for us.

“Tactically he has matured and technically he is also a good scrum-half and his kicking game against England and Ireland was top draw.

“We know Mike will always make breaks in games, as was shown against France two years ago when he was making breaks for fun.

“But what is important is the time and the place he makes those breaks and in the last three games his decision making of when to go and when to pass has been pretty spot on.

“He only made one dart against Ireland but it was a telling break and that is what we want from him.”

But Howley has reminded his scrum-half that certain basis aspects of his game need to improve against France.

“We have spoken about his passing against Ireland,” added Howley.

“He had a few bad passes including one behind Stephen Jones which could have cost us a try-scoring opportunity.

“International rugby is about taking chances. Those are the standards we are trying to instil and Mike knows those standards.”

It will be James Hook on the end of those passes on Saturday against Les Bleus after Phillips’ Ospreys half-back was given the nod ahead of Jones.

“James and Stephen have got differences which everyone is going to weigh up,” added Howley.

“James is a huge attacking talent but it is the control of the game that’s going to be really important for us and we need to start the game with structure.

“Those are the areas we will be speaking with James and Mike about.”

And Wales’ attacking coach is hoping the half-back pair will benefit from the platform established by the rejuvenated Welsh pack.

“What we have targeted is our direction and tried to stop the need to go wide straightaway,” added Howley.

“Rugby is about going forward first before you go wide and that is what we are trying to change at the moment.

“The likes of Ryan Jones and Jonathan Thomas were outstanding in that department against Ireland with the yards the gained and the angles which they ran – this gave us time to attack the channels.”

And that allowed the electric Shane Williams to claim the vital Triple Crown clinching score with his 40th Welsh try, equalling Gareth Thomas’ record.

“You just run out of adjectives to describe Shane,” said Howley.

“He is an unbelievable player who has got power pace and balance.

“I am glad I am not playing because if you had to mark him in a one-on-one situation you would put your money on him every time.

“His ability when he moved to scrum-half against Ireland in calling our patterns was incredible.

“What a message it sent out about a guy who was supposedly playing out of position.”

gareth.griffiths@mediawales.co.uk