If ever two talented sportsmen served a town better than Jonathan Davies and Mike Phillips have done for Whitland then we would love to know about them because these two fantastic rugby players showed their love of home straight after the Lions’ historic win over Australia.
Both had been heavily involved in the huge win over Australia in Sydney in front of 82,000 people, almost 35,000 of them from Great Britain, but found time to have their photograph taken waving to all back home, with a Welsh Flag draped around them and the word ‘Whitland’ written on it!
Typically of both, it was sent as a belated birthday card to a friend and there was real delight with the sentiment from two now-famous sportsmen who still recognise their roots and are proud of them.
Davies now reigns supreme
And what a campaign for both of them it has been with the Great Britain and Ireland Lions 2013. Before they left it was felt by many top pundits that Jonathan ‘Fox’ Davies would be behind Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll in the battle for the centre berths but he played so well that Warren Gatland picked him for all three tests, the first two with the Irish legend and then with Roberts for the vital final test.
Sir Clive was highly impressed
It evoked great criticism in the press and former players but he played so well in all three that no less a rugby man than Sir Clive Woodward said today,
“Jonathan Davies is my man of the series because he embodies ‘Warrenball’. He is a big physical specimen – 6 feet 1 inch and 16 stone 8 lbs – but he is one of the most skilful play-makers I have seen.
“With Roberts taking on the primary ball-carrying role, it left Davies the freedom to float around as second play-maker in the back line and take the pressure off Sexton with the precision of his passing and his left boot.” Wow!
‘Best centre in Europe’
Davies joined Leigh Halfpenny, George North and Alun-Wyn Jones as the only players to stay on the field throughout all three tests and Luke Benedict, rugby correspondent in the Daily Mail gave Davies joint top mark with Halfpenny, Alex Corbisiero and Alun Wyn Jones as the top players in the third test! His comment shows how respected Davies has become:
“Davies surely inherits Brian O’Driscoll’s title as the finest centre in Europe now. Can adapt his skills to suit any game plan.” Amazing!
Mike plays down his own part
Mike Phillips started the first test and was then rested for the second because of his troublesome knee injury – but was reinstated for the decider because Gatland clearly thought his experience and immense physical presence were key to the base of the scrum.
In his own column in the Mail, he clearly thought that he hadn’t played as well as he might but there is no doubt that the Aussies watching him mean that there are spaces elsewhere, which helps his colleagues.
Still played his part – and now looking at his future in the game
He still made telling tackles and plugged gaps but it was interesting that he also mentioned the fact that he might well consider standing down from international rugby because of the heavy pressures, and because of the fact that if he wants to move back from Bayonne to England or Wales his unavailability for international duties during periods in the season might deter clubs who are interested!
What is sure that he has been a great servant for Wales and the British Lions, having played 77 times for his country and in five tests for the Lions, three of which they have won.
He joins Jonathan Davies as favourite sons of Whitland and who can blame the townsfolk for being so proud of them. When they eventually arrive home they have promised to pay a visit to a local junior school to meet the children and staff – and doesn’t that tell you all you need to know about two rugby players who are firmly a part of the folk lore of the Great Britain and Ireland Lions!