The man from Felinfoel, who sadly passed away at the age of 73 last Sunday, was a genius on the field of play, and typified better than anyone the mesmerising attacking prowess of the great Welsh sides of the 1970s.
Outside-half is the most scrutinised position in Welsh rugby, partly down to the exploits of Bennett, in both the Wales and British & Irish Lions number 10 shirts. Current Wales attack coach Stephen Jones followed in Bennett’s footsteps to wear the Wales number 10 shirt 104 times.
Jones also played for Bennett’s beloved Scarlets, and he remembers like yesterday the first time their paths crossed. “I wasn’t in a rugby club it was in Felinfoel Cricket Club,” said Jones. “I was playing for Carmarthen Wanderers up in Felinfoel, and we had a very good side.
“Phil and his sons were playing. They were all excellent cricketers.
“As an 18-year-old who had just started playing for Llanelli so I was aware of the number tens who had previously played for the club, and the legacy Phil had left behind.
“When I finally played for Llanelli and got to meet Phil I felt like a very proud man. He was amazing I have to be honest, and very supportive.
“He would always meet you with a smile. He was happy to put an arm around you, and talk to you.
“He was a great man with a positive outlook on life. I’m grateful for the support he gave me throughout my career.
“His playing style was a different level in fairness. This week we’ve seen some amazing footage, and his footwork was incredible.
“How easily he beat defenders, how easily he created space, and how easily he created line breaks was something very special. I’d have loved to have got near that.
“He was certainly a different level in that aspect. He was immense as simple as that. He’s an inspiration to everyone else who tries to come through and tries to follow.”
Bennett at his peak between 1972 and 1978 was unplayable and almost redefined attacking rugby with his outrageous sidestep, blistering acceleration, and peripheral vision carving up defences all over the world. But one area of his game which perhaps hasn’t been as appreciated was his tactical kicking.
Those who were fortunate enough to play with Bennet or unfortunate to play against him cite his kicking game as being ahead of its time. Current Wales kicking coach Neil Jenkins, who played 87 tests for Wales, took a huge amount of inspiration from Bennett.
The former Wales playmaker, who was previously world rugby’s record points scorer, was a different type of outside-half to Bennett but was full of praise for the support he received from him throughout his career.
“He played number 10 for so long in an incredible era back in the 1970’s,” he said. “He played for the British & Irish Lions, and the Barbarians in some incredible games.
“Growing up watching Phil and some other incredible tens like Barry John he was someone I wanted to emulate because he was such a great player. Being able to wear the same jersey he worse was special for myself.
“I certainly would have loved to have been able to perform like Phil but that wasn’t the case. The way I played the game was the total opposite to how Phil and the great Welsh tens played the game.
“But to be able to wear that jersey, watch those games, and some of the stuff he did in the games he played in was special. It was incredible.
“I was proud to be a part of that. Obviously I didn’t play when he did but to represent the country was great.
“Every time you pull on the Wales shirt the great players who came before you, you try to emulate.” In this day and age New Zealand lead the way when it comes to attacking innovation but back in the 1970’s Wales led the way.
When current Wales head coach Wayne Pivac was a young boy growing up in Auckland he looked on from affar in awe at the mesmerising brilliance of Bennett whether it be his performance when Llanelli famously beat the All Blacks in 1972, his outrageous sidesteps for the Barbarians, which sparked arguably the greatest try ever scored, or his career best performances for the Lions in South Africa in 1974.
Pivac was lucky enough to get to know Bennett well when he was appointed Scarlets coach in 2015. “I was 10-years-old back in New Zealand, listening to the radio when the All Blacks lost to Llanelli,” he said. “There was that famous 9-3 victory which Phil was a part of.
“Then of course there was that famous Barbarians game. My memory is of Phil getting the ball deep in his own 22, and having the courage to throw in some really good sidesteps.
“For us New Zealanders it was the first time we’d really seen sidesteps like that. It was something really special, and I’ll never forget that.
“It was a privilege to come and meet Phil then in person. For some of the guys that had been around generations before, played and been heavily involved with the club I was interested to see how they would take that.
“Phil was so welcoming from day one. He was really supportive.
“I was really pleased to be able to coach Llanelli (Scarlets) that famous club with Stephen Jones, and we ended up winning a championship.
“We wanted to play rugby which the locals and past players would enjoy. We were able to do that, and it was really special to be able to do that for guys like Phil and Derek Quinnell.
“Guys like Phil enjoyed it very much. He was a really good rugby man. His knowledge of the game was fantastic but the humour that he brought with it as well.
“He always had a story to tell, and he was a funny man. He was someone I liked to listen to.”
At the Scarlets Bennett was a huge support to the clubs players, and was part of the furniture at Parc y Scarlets. One player who got to know the Wales legend very well is current Wales scrum-half Gareth Davies.
“It was when I was 16-17 and had just joined the Scarlets academy in Stradey Park,” he said. “It was quite a few years ago now.
“I knew that Phil Bennett was one of the greatest Welsh rugby players ever. Just to see him floating about Stradey Park was a bit of a shock to me.
“We’d see him around the place quite often. He’d be there supporting us every game.
“He was a big supporter. After every game I’d see him in the Phil Bennett lounge or in the Quinnell lounge.
“He’d always have time to speak to players whether we had a game or a bad game he’d always be positive. That was one thing which was really nice about Phil.
“We are quite fortunate as a family because mam and dad were very close to Pat and Phil. I’ve been fortunate enough to attend a lot of events and dinners with Phil.
“Phil would be guest speaker at a lot of them and the way he spoke was outstanding. He had a lot of great stories from the 70s. They were class to listen to and I’ll never get bored of them.”
There’s an old saying that you should never meet your heroes for fear of being left disappointed but the complete opposite was true of Bennett. While Bennett is revered for his exploits on the pitch he was loved for his kindness away from the field of play.
“I see Phil as a great family man, very humble, very supportive, he loved Felinfoel and Llanelli,” said Jones. “He put Llanelli on the map from a rugby perspective, and he was a great man.
“I loved his humility. He was a great man but behind every great man is a great woman.
“Pat, his wife, was always there, and we’d see his sons Steven and James at the games. They are a great family.”
Bennett was a humble man who was firmly embedded into his local community, and had time for everyone else.
“From day one he said Wayne if you want to chat about anything I’m available,” said Pivac. “He’s was a legend.”
And his fellow Scarlets man Davies had the last say. “I just think he was an absolute gentleman,” he said.
“The way he had so much time for everyone down at Parc y Scarlets. Not only the players but supporters as well.
“After the game if they’d see Phil Bennett anywhere near us players the majority of people would rather go and see him than us. That was always nice to see.”
