Jenkins: 'Phillips treading a fine line'
Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:22
Lions kicking coach Neil Jenkins
Neil Jenkins has warned Wales and British and Irish Lions scrumhalf, Mike Phillips that his place in the national team is on the line after his most recent off-the-field incident following the recent Lions tour of South Africa.
Phillips spent a night in jail after being arrested after a disagreement with a taxi driver following the recent Lions tour.
Jenkins, one of the key members of Warren Gatland’s management team, warned Phillips was "treading a fine line" and needed to "take responsibility for his actions".
Jenkins, in his column for a Sunday newspaper, stressed that Phillips was not doing himself any favours in the eyes of Wales coach Gatland.
"Mike Phillips is treading a fine line if he wants to hold onto his Wales jersey," said Jenkins.
"Losing your place in a team through form or injury is one thing... but having it taken away as punishment is another.
"Mike is probably the best scrumhalf in the world, given the way he went toe-to-toe with the Springboks, but he’s not doing himself any favours by getting on the wrong side of the law.
"We will have to wait and see what happens after the 'incident' in Penarth, but getting arrested is hardly likely to make him Gatland’s favourite player."
Jenkins stressed that Phillips "needs to learn a lesson" on how to handle being a rugby star in the limelight.
"That’s hard in a goldfish bowl like Wales and it was a painful lesson I learned myself," said Jenkins.
The Wales and Lions kicking coach also faced public disorder charges after a punch-up in a Swansea bar in 1997.
"It wasn't our fault and we were found not guilty, but those three weeks in court were a low point," said Jenkins.
“When you're out having a few drinks you have to be whiter than white because there’s always one idiot who wants to have a pop at a big name and get a bit of attention for himself.
"Players are only human and few people understand the pressure these people are under, especially after such an intense seven weeks on a Lions tour.
"You can't shut yourself off and everyone needs to let off steam.
"He’s a great player, but he has to take responsibility for his actions."