That’s why the Welsh scrum half is taking nothing for granted this weekend when Wales attempt to stay on course for a potential shot at an 11th Grand Slam against France the following weekend.
Phillips got his first taste of Italian passion on the rugby field in 2006 when he came on as a replacement in the drawn game at the Millennium Stadium. Since then he has picked up four wins in a row, 2008-11, and is targeting a fifth on Saturday.
“People will expect us to put a big score on Italy, but they are an immensely tough team to break down and they get better every year. Their pack is huge and every time we play against them we have a difficult game,” said Phillips.
“There is massive respect for them within our team and we have to make sure we concentrate fully on our game. We have to be very accurate in the first 20 minutes and we have trained this week with massive intent and accuracy.
“The Italians are very proud and passionate and have a big physical presence in their front five. It is going to be a tough match up front, but if we can move them around to begin with hopefully the chances will come later on.
“We want to play a high tempo game, entertain and score tries – that’s what it is all about. We back ourselves on the fitness front and we will look to work their big guys in the first 25 minutes to create opportunities for our backs.”
Phillips was one of the stars of the 2008 Grand Slam side and sat on the bench three times in the 2005 championship clean sweep. An ever increasing presence in the Welsh side, Phillips will win his 64th cap for his country this weekend
“We aren’t really thinking about a Grand Slam – we are just concentrating on the next game, the next line-out and then next defensive set. It was great to win a trophy in the last game, but we are just thinking about the next one,” said Phillips.
“Italy are a side that improves year in, year out. They beat a good French team last year and they have some world class players in their side.
“In the years we have played against them a few Welsh teams have come off second best. They are a dogged, passionate side and it is going to be a tough ask for us, so we will need to concentrate for the full 80 minutes.
“As players, we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves and we know it is going to be a very tough match. Tempo is going to be the key and we have to improve on our performance last time out as we left a few tries out there.”
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