Phillips bails out injury-hit Scarlets

FORMER Wales scrumhalf Mike Phillips will make a remarkable return to action for the Scarlets’ visit to South Africa – 12 years after he last played for the region.

Phillips, 35, retired last season but has answered an injury SOS from Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac and is set to feature off the bench as back-up to captain Jonathan Evans.

Scarlets lock and Port Elizabeth native David Bulbring is expecting a tough day in the boiler room. He said: “When we played Toulon in France it was about 24 degrees and it’s going to be similar.

“I lived there for quite a lot of my life, so I can give the boys a few pointers about what to expect. Considering the cold temperatures we are having in Wales, it’s going to be different.”

Pivac fields an inexperienced side with Johnny McNicholl starting at fullback and the versatile Tadhg Beirne on the flank. Phillips is joined on the bench by some of the Scarlets’ most promising young talent, having flown in from Dubai to meet his new team-mates.

“This is an opportunity for the boys who don’t play every week to show they have got a point to prove,” said Steffan Hughes, who starts at centre.

“Last season we did well when our internationals were away – we won 90 per cent of our games in that period which was a vital contribution. Playing in South Africa is going to be a great experience.”

The Kings are captained by loosehead prop Schalk Ferreira. Recent loan-signing from the Lions Anthony Volmink starts on the right wing.