Mike Phillips: I don’t regret Warren Gatland’s outburst – he should survive for now

Mike Phillips, Wales’ most capped scrum-half, says he does not regret his social media posts criticizing Warren Gatland but believes he should stay in the job until the Six Nations.

The 42-year-old says he spoke from the heart in the aftermath of Wales’ opening home defeat to Fiji and his outburst came from his passion for wanting his country to succeed.

He called for Gatland to be “sent out” and was one of several former players, including independent Welsh Rugby Union board member Jamie Roberts and former Wales fly-half, Dan Biggar, to speak out against their former coach after the Pacific Islanders. “24-19 victory.

The Welsh coach, 61, is fighting for survival after just six wins in 24 games since returning to the job in December 2022 – Saturday’s 12-45 loss to the Springboks marked the team’s 12th consecutive defeat. Gatland’s fate is expected to be known within days of the WRU’s review of the autumn campaign.

Phillips, who won 94 caps for Wales and was Gatland’s best scrum-half for the national team and the British and Irish Lions, said it was important to share a different point of view.

He said: “I think Warren knows me better than anyone. I am very emotional and I played rugby with emotion. I played everything on that. That’s how it is. I care, we care about Wales’ game. I think everyone in Wales is emotional, that’s what makes Wales a great place. People are passionate about Welsh rugby and want to succeed.

“I think if you really know me, there was no malice in that (post), it came from a good heart and we want everyone to succeed.”

When asked if he regretted sharing the post on X, he replied: “No, because I didn’t delete it.

“I’m an emotional person, I’m not perfect by any means, everyone knows that. I care about the game and what’s best for the game.

He said continuity was now key for Wales with preparations for the Six Nations ahead.

“Warren did a great job. I think we need to look to the future, nothing against him, he’s been there for so long, I think sometimes it’s good to have a different view on rugby and you know, I think getting rid of him now would probably be a bad thing. » he said.

“We should really be planning and recruiting the next group of coaches, whoever the best candidate is, whoever is out there, hungry and maybe wants to improve Wales, that’s what we need to do TO DO.

“I really think he needs to stay until the end of the Six Nations because that’s too little time to really recruit the next player and plan the best fit for Wales.”

Gatland responded to Phillips’ comments on social media by saying he was “probably one of the best to pull on the Welsh jersey”, but added “probably some of the things that have happened to him have been a bit sad”.

Phillips said he did not know what Gatland meant. “I don’t know what sad things are,” he said. “A lot of sad things happened to me. Losing the Lions series is sad, losing in the World Cup semi-final is sad.

“I don’t know what he’s referring to there. We all go through good times and tough times, and I think I’m lucky to have been with Wales all these years and they were great times, emotional times, there’s had ups and downs. I’m very lucky and proud of what I’ve achieved in the Welsh jersey.

He added: “We had a great relationship. I could be myself. He played a major role in my career, supported me 100 percent and I also supported him. I have nothing but respect for Warren. I just feel like everyone is having their time in the sun. Should I play for Wales, no, that’s how it happens.

Phillips said Gatland and the coaching staff brought the best out of him during his time in the Welsh jersey after starting his career with the Scarlets, before playing for the Cardiff Blues and Ospreys, as well as for the French teams of Bayonne and Racing 92.

“They often tried to annoy me. They felt that an angry Mike is a good Mike in terms of play,” Phillips said of Gatland’s techniques.

“The first game against England and he sat next to me and said you could be great one day and I said I was already world class. He loved it. I played on that too.

“Like I said I was good for him, he was good for me.”

Gatland’s first tenure of 12 years saw Wales compete in two World Cups, win three Grand Slams and celebrate a 14-match unbeaten run, which saw the team briefly propelled to top spot in the rankings worldwide in 2019.

Phillips said Wales should have built on their success then to try to avoid the problems they face today.

“The problems are the basic game, around 20 teams fielded teams last week,” he said. “Then we have the academy system where we prevent boys from playing at 16, 17 and 18. Then the regions under 20 haven’t competed in 10 years, then there are the regions that fail. There are so many things going on that need to be rectified.

“Maybe when we were flying high that’s when we should have made the best possible business decisions for Wales, but we didn’t. This is why we are here today. So now we are feeling the effects.

“Women must also be treated as professionals”

Issues around Welsh rugby have grown with the row over women’s football facing fresh allegations of sexism and inequality, the article reveals Telegraph sport that external players were threatened with consequences if they did not accept the WRU’s terms, including being removed from major tournaments, during contract negotiations.

Professional contracts were first issued in early 2022, with Wales reaching third place in the 2022 and 2023 Women’s Six Nations.

Dubai-based Phillips, who is now business development director at Benchmark Recruitment, said it was good that women could aspire to pull on the Welsh jersey, but he criticized the row over contracts.

“I love women’s football. I think it’s amazing to see the growth,” he said. “I think it’s such an inspiring thing for young girls to see full crowds at their matches and we need that and obviously they need to be treated like professionals as well. Telling them they have to sign a contract in three hours is ridiculous. You should be inspired to play rugby for Wales.

“Red cards cost you matches – 2011 could have been different”

His competitive spirit has not left him and he said that if the 20-minute red card rule had been in force when Sam Warburton was sent off in the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Wales , 19 minutes after the start of the clash against France, the result could have been different.

“To be honest I don’t want to see any cards, that’s what we want in rugby,” Phillips said. “It costs a lot, like in the World Cup semi-finals when we got a red card and I don’t think it’s (Warburton’s) fault.

“I don’t think my dreams and aspirations should be changed by one small decision or one small mistake. It shouldn’t kill your dreams or kill your opportunities to succeed in your life.

He added: “I’ve watched games where I see a red card where I turn it off and if I turn the TV off my son doesn’t watch it.”

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