WALES SCRUM-HALF MIKE Phillips had a fascinating duel with Australia’s Quade Cooper at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Phillips, currently without a club after getting sacked by Bayonne, singled out the Wallabies playmaker for special attention — thumping Copper to the turf at one stage and letting him know all about it. The out-half bounced back to inspire his country to a 30-26 victory.
One exchange, caught by the TV cameras, may land the Welshman in disciplinary trouble. Phillips stamped on Cooper’s hand at a Welsh ruck and was in no rush to remove his studs.
The IRB disciplinary panel are sure to study the footage and Phillips can expect a call about the incident. The upper end of the disciplinary scale could see the scrum-half banned for six weeks if he is found guilty of a deliberate stamp.
Earlier this season, Cian Healy and Brian O’Driscoll both received three-week suspensions for stamps in respective Six Nations games against England and Italy.
Cooper’s flick pass to set up Joe Tomane’s first-half try was the highlight of his afternoon but he ended the game in the sin-bin for an over-eager tackle in the closing stages. Upon receiving his 50th cap, post-match, Cooper commented, “There’s been a lot of ups and many lows as well. A lot of the boys have never given up on me.”
