Six Nations 2010: Wales name Mike Phillips on bench against France

By Brendan Gallagher Published: 9:00PM GMT twenty-two February 2010

Return: Lions scrum-half Mike Phillips has been declared on between the Wales replacements for the Six Nations compare opposite France on Friday Photo: REUTERS

Mike Phillips, the British and Irish Lions scrum-half, has been rushed on to the dais after 40 mins rugby in 4 months following an ankle-ligament injury, whilst Deniol Jones, the Cardiff Blues lock, will have his initial Six Nations begin after 10 years in and out of the Wales squad.

Phillips came by 40 mins of rugby for Ospreys opposite Connacht on Sunday and after stating no greeting yesterday sunrise was rught afar called in to the squad, notwithstanding the call-up over the week end of Sales Dwayne Peel, who was himself retuning from injury.

Fall on wing opposite Wales Gatland turns to TV to compromise Wales damage predicament Ken Owens in as contingent lift out Williams out of France strife Jones out of Six Nations Powell vows to win behind place

A bewildering time for all scrum-halves in the squad, not slightest Gareth Cooper, who proposed opposite England and Scotland and is right afar over-abundance to requirements. Richie Rees, a sparky participation when he came off the dais opposite Scotland, will right afar start.

"We put positively no vigour on Mike, but he was really penetrating and he has shown us sufficient to consequence preference on the bench," Gatland said. "He is a world-class player and he has been champing at the bit to get behind to general rugby.

"He might not be 100 per cent compare fit but he still has probably the most appropriate pass in northern hemisphere rugby and is a big earthy presence, so we know he wouldnt let us down. But hes not the story really, that would be to take the limelight afar from Richie Rees, who has shown up really well and warranted his selection."

While not wishing to lead astray from Rees, the vital articulate point stays Phillipss quick reintegration. Only a player of Phillipss category and healthy fitness could get afar with it, but it stays a risk. If Rees is harmed early in the diversion it will be a outrageous ask of Phillips.

For Jones, meanwhile, it is a mental condition entrance belatedly loyal at the age of 32 after a deteriorate of glorious form at made at home turn to one side Bradley Davies, who has indicated to Gatland that he wants to honour his mother, Cheryl, who died last week, by receiving his hard-won place on Friday night.

Gatland has again positive the player that he is free to absent himself from any sessions this week if he needs a little time to himself, but the absolute immature close took a full piece in precision yesterday after returning from a week end with his family.

The participation of Jones a vastly experienced player over the last decade and a close crony and bar co-worker of Davies will certainly be a joy this week.

"You can usually suppose what Brad feels similar to and what he is going through, but he is a good celebrity and a really clever character," Jones pronounced last night. "He will come by well and have his family really unapproachable on Friday night."

Elsewhere Jonathan Thomas, as expected, has changed to blindside brazen for the rejected Andy Powell after the latters golf transport pranks. Powell was expected to have been forsaken in any case, with Thomas a some-more than means emissary who increases Waless line-out options.

Over in Marcousis, France manager Mark Lièvremont has again kept shift to a smallest and left for smoothness as France go on their attack on the Grand Slam. With flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo blank with a calf aria he has incited to the experienced Julien Bonnaire in the behind row. With wing Vincent Clerc additionally harmed Lièvremont has reverted to Benjamin Fall, his initial preference in the opening diversion opposite Scotland, when he took a knock.

Elsewhere Lièvremont is some-more than happy with the group who have served him so well. Clement Poitrenaud appears entirely rehabilitated at full-back, Mathieu Bastareaud has struck up an evident bargain with Yannick Jauzion in midfield and the immature half-back pair, Morgan Parra and François Trinh-Duc, are commencement to approach affairs with a little authority.

Wales, v France (Millennium Stadium, Friday)

L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), R Rees (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: K Owens (Scarlets), R Gill (Saracens), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), M Phillips (Ospreys), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Ospreys)