Mike Phillips has doubled down on his criticism of Warren Gatland

Mike Phillips has doubled down on his recent criticism of Warren Gatland with a cheeky reply to a social media post about Ronan O’Gara not wanting the Wales job. It was last month, following Wales’ loss to Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series, when retired scrum-half Phillips let loose on Gatland, whose record in charge at the end of November was a record-breaking 12 Test losses in succession.

Responding to an interview Gatland gave after the Fijian defeat, Phillips wrote on X: “Loads of positives, yeah? You’re on 600k a year and don’t even have to win! How the WRU bring this guy back is just nuts! Laughing all the way to the bank.

“When I see this guy talking about family makes me cringe. Did he speak to me at the end of my career? Did he f! I won for this guy.

“This bloke is only out for himself, and it kills me to see all this bulls**t praise he is getting. He deserves to be kicked out, like he did to so many quality Welsh players.”

A WRU decision has still to be taken on whether Gatland will be at the helm in Wales for the 2025 Guinness Six Nations campaign which starts away to France on January 31.

Fixture

Six Nations

France

15:15

31 Jan 25

Wales

All Stats and Data

In the meantime, La Rochelle boss Ronan O’Gara spoke this week about his international coaching ambitions – but he stated he would not be interested in coaching Wales.

“I haven’t thought about that, to be honest with you. Without lacking humility, I would prefer Ireland, England or France,” he said.

Responding on X to O’Gara’s dismissal of the idea of coaching Wales, Phillips wrote: “I don’t think he realises, if you coach Wales you get £600k a year for losing every game! Who wouldn’t take that! Plus if you win a few, you get some gates named after you!”

I don’t think he realises, if you coach Wales you get £600k a year for losing every game! Who wouldn’t take that! ? Plus if you win a few, you get some gates named after you! pic.twitter.com/jOOgGoSq1D

— Mike Phillips (@mikephillips009) December 10, 2024