What Mike Phillips loved most about All Black Dan Carter at Racing

Ex-Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips has spoken glowingly about former All Blacks star Dan Carter, with whom he played at half-back during their title-winning spell together at Racing 92. Carter stayed on in Europe having retired from Test rugby following the 2015 World Cup triumph and his first season in France culminated in Racing lifting the French title with a win over Toulon in Barcelona.  

Dubai resident Phillips is currently at home in Wales promoting his newly published autobiography, Half-Truths – My Triumphs, My Mistakes, My Untold Story, and the 39-year-old is due to come out of retirement on Saturday to play for Whitland, his old grassroots club, when they host a WRU Plate competition game at home to Aberystwyth. 

As part of his book tour, Phillips made an appearance on this week's edition of The Rugby Pod, the show hosted by Jim Hamilton and Andy Goode, and he was full of praise for Carter, the 39-year-old, two-time World Cup winner for the All Blacks who called time on his career earlier this year following a brief 2020 stint at the Blues.  

Asked if there were any stories about Carter in the book, Phillips replied: Of course. He is going to sell me a few copies, isn't he? It was class to play with him. We were the same age at U21s (for Wales and New Zealand) and playing alongside him, he was class. 

"What I liked about him was off the field he loved a beer and he would get on with everyone and was a good laugh. World-class as well, never made a mistake. He was a bit annoyed that I was better looking than him but...

"I'd love to say something (negative about him) but he is a top, top guy. We went to the Monaco Grand Prix together, that was a top night. Never drank so much. He's a top guy and obviously world-class on the rugby field. He deserves all the accolades he gets and he is genuinely down to earth. 

Asked how important it is for players to bond away from the training ground, Phillips added: "You have got to switch off and you have got to enjoy yourself. That is when you get to know people and grow. That is when people open up."