Wales v France
Phillips dropped for being too 'confrontational'
ESPN Staff
February 19, 2014
Mike Phillips will have to settle for a spot in the shadows come Friday © PA Photos
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Wales boss Warren Gatland has conceded he is unhappy with scrum-half Mike Phillips' "confrontational" nature.

Phillips has been dropped ahead of Friday's Six Nations clash against France at the Millennium Stadium in one of three changes made by Gatland in the wake of their heavy defeat to Ireland. In Phillips' place, Rhys Webb starts and Gatland is keen to express the need for Webb to play his own game.

"We weren't happy with Mike's performance against Ireland and we think it's a big opportunity for Rhys," Gatland said. "He got a bit confrontational with Conor Murray and this is an opportunity for him to have a think about that.

"It's also important to give somebody else the chance to stake a claim in that position. Mike always responds well to a challenge. One of his attributes is his competitiveness and that's probably a weakness for him too.

"We don't want Rhys Webb to be the same as Mike Phillips. I want him to do what he's good at. He's got a good kicking game and he's good at bringing in runners around the fringes."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd

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