Warburton backing boozy Phillips
Wales captain Sam Warburton has backed teammate Mike Phillips to bounce back from his sacking by Bayonne and prove his worth in the forthcoming end-of-year Test matches.
French side Bayonne confirmed this week that Phillips's contract had been terminated after he allegedly reported drunk for a video analysis session earlier this month.
Phillips has announced that he intends to pursue legal proceedings against the Top 14 club.
He is scheduled to make his first appearance since being sacked in Wales's match against South Africa on November 9 and Warburton says he has no concerns about how the affair will affect the scrumhalf.
"The players have been quite respectful of Mike and not really asked him about what happened," Warburton said.
"I am sure he is sick of answering all the questions, and we have kind of left him alone.
"But whenever he has been in a Welsh shirt he has always played great, so I am sure he will put things behind him and perform this November."
Phillips, who claims he learnt of his dismissal from a French newspaper article, played a full part in an hour-long training session with his Wales team-mates at the Millennium Stadium on Tuesday.
AFP
