Phillips urges Gatland to go for five Welsh stars in his Lions XV
MIKE Phillips is urging Warren Gatland to pick five of Wales’ Triple Crown stars in his Lions team to face South Africa this summer.
The 94-times former Wales ace, who was Lions’ scrumhalf on the 2009 and 2013 tours, can find no place for under-fire England skipper Owen Farrell in his starting XV.
Instead, Phillips plumps for Alun Wyn
Jones as his Lions captain, feeling the Welsh warrior has done enough during the Six Nations march to warrant a place in the second row next to Maro Itoje.
Four other members of Wayne Pivac’s Six Nations side also get Phillips’ nod – Josh Adams, Tomos Williams, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Number nine Williams injured his hamstring in the first half of Wales’ opening win over Ireland and hasn’t featured since, but hopes to return against
Italy to put down his marker for Lions selection.
Lions boss Gatland was at the Principality Stadium to run the rule first hand over some of his key players during Wales’ resounding win over England at the weekend.
And Phillips feels the quartet of Wales players who shone in that game – tryscorer Adams, skipper Jones and back-row aces Tipuric and Faletau – will have impressed their former boss.
He also says Louis Rees-Zammit is likely to go on tour and could force his way into the Test side, while a case can be made for hooker Ken Owens.
Of the captaincy issue, Phillips told Sky Sports: “Alun Wyn Jones and Maro Itoje are my two second rows, and I’d probably pick Alun Wyn as my captain.
“He’s pretty inspiring and how he’s still going it’s phenomenal. He’s so prominent as well and he’s got massive respect from everyone.”
Phillips sticks with Itoje despite the indiscipline he showed in giving away penalties against Wales, saying he just ‘needs a word in the ear,’ but also wants to fit Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne into his team.
Thus he selects the ex-Scarlets man in a powerhouse back row which also features Wales’ world -class duo of Tipuric and Faletau.
“Those two would walk into any team for me,” says Phillips of his former Wales colleagues.
“Taulupe has had a season or two with injuries, but I played with him in his first game for Wales and he’s absolutely class. Justin is a multi-skilled guy who gets in at No.7 and at No.6 I’ve gone for Tadhg Beirne, who is great around around the park and good over the ball.”
Ireland’s Ronan Kelleher is perhaps Phillips’ surprise choice at hooker. “He looks a machine for Ireland, although you could put Ken Owens in there,” he says.
In the back division there is no place for England superstar Farrell, with Scotland’s Finn Russell at 10 and Manu Tuilagi filling the 12 berth. Of Russell, Phillips says: “He’s a definite pick and he’s a point of difference. He can create for others and for himself, and he’s great to watch. He’s a bit more accurate and correct now as well.”
Phillips argues Tuilagi’s injury during the tournament has demonstrated how much “England have really struggled without him,” so he gets the nod at inside centre.
“Tomos Williams goes in at scrum-half and although he got injured, he should be back. I think Kieran Hardy has a chance of going as well.”
As for Rees Zammit, Phillips calls him: “Probably the best example of someone who could be a bolter. He’s exciting and he’s lit it up since been playing for Wales.”
Mike Phillips’ Lions:
Stuart Hogg (Scotland); Anthony Watson (England), Garry Ringrose (Ireland), Manu Tuilagi (England), Josh Adams (Wales); Finn Russell (Scotland), Tomos Williams Wales); Cian Healy (Ireland), Ronan Kelleher (Ireland), Kyle Sinckler (England), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, capt), Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales).