The Racing Metro star turns 33 later this month, but the experience gained over 98 caps for Wales and the British & Irish Lions since 2003 mans he knows exactly what is required of him in the build-up to what he hopes will be his third World Cup.
Phillips will partner James Hook at half-back in the Welsh side to take on Ireland in the first World Cup warm-up game at a sold-out Millennium Stadium on Saturday and the longest serving Welsh back intends to make the most of his starting opportunity.
“It has been tough going at the training camps. It was nice to get through it all and things are going well, but as I’m getting older the training is getting harder,” said Phillips, who is only two caps short of joining scrum halves George Gregan (139) and Alessandro Troncon (101) in World Rugby’s 36-strong 100 cap club.
“The coaches have done as much as they can to give us the chance to improve. It’s a great environment to be in and we are all looking forward to being involved at the weekend.
“There are no friendlies in rugby and everyone wants game time and everyone knows how important this game is. We know we are going to have to impress on the field and that’s what the game against Ireland is all about.
“Some players are nailed on for the final World Cup squad, but I’m one of the ones who has to impress with
Rhys Webb, Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams all battling for places. The competition for places runs throughout the squad and the management have been making us all room with our biggest rivals at the training camps.
“It’s very healthy competition and that’s what drives you on as a player. Everyone is trying to do that little bit extra in order to impress the coaches – in every test we get put through and every day in training.
“But in the end the most important thing is to impress on the field and that’s what we will all be looking to do on Saturday.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland underlined the fact that Saturday’s game “is a big chance for them” when he announced he was pairing Philips with Hook at half-back. He knows full well he can rely on them to produce good performances, but can they show they still have what it takes to oust their successors for both region and country, Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar at Nos 9 and 10 for Wales
“Mike Phillips is very experienced. Rhys Webb has come onto the scene over the past 12 months and put him under some pressure, so it’s a big chance for Mike this weekend,” admitted Gatland.
“It’s been hard on James. Part of the reason why he hasn’t had a frequent place in the team is the decision he made to leave Wales and go to France. He went to Perpignan, then wasn’t selected as a 10 and ended up playing at full-back.
“He’s been at Gloucester and wasn’t playing particularly well for the first half of the season, but really improved his form towards the end of the campaign. We’d spoken to him about what we were looking for and Rob Howley had spoken to David Humphreys as well about what we were looking for in terms of James playing at 10.
“He improved as the season went on and this is a great chance for him, with all the experience he’s had and the maturity that he’s got. Even though they haven’t played together since 2011, there’s a long-recognised partnership between James and Mike and they get a real opportunity on Saturday.”
