Mike Phillips hails ‘rugby icon’ Brian O’Driscoll

Wales star Mike Phillips has hailed Ireland's record caps holder Brian O'Driscoll as "an icon of world rugby."

O’Driscoll, who is in his final season before retirement, is set to take on Wales for the last time in next Saturday’s Six Nations showdown.

“Brian O’Driscoll has been an icon of world rugby and is a gentleman off the pitch,” said Phillips, who toured alongside him with the 2009 and 2013 Lions, today. “My early memories were of him scoring that try against Australia for the Lions (in 2001) and I eventually went on to play alongside him, which was a massive honour for me. He’s scored some big tries in his career, and a couple against us as well.

“He’s a world-class player. Everyone knows that, and I just hope he has one of those lesser games on the weekend!”

Wales assistant coach and defence specialist Shaun Edwards echoed those sentiments. Edwards was, along with Gatland, part of the 2009 Lions coaching team under Ian McGeechan.

“I was fortunate to coach him (O’Driscoll) with the 2009 Lions, and I just got to see why he is so good,” Edwards said. “He’s not a huge man, but it is the way he prepares for games, his intensity, his toughness, his mental hardness. You can see he is very, very professional.

“And his bravery and skill-level is unquestioned in a position where guys generally are bigger than him. I could see why he became the player he is. He has been outstanding.”

Phillips and company were back on the training pitch today ahead of a Dublin encounter that could go a considerable way towards determining the outcome of this season's Six Nations tournament. Wales have won three of the last four meetings, including a 2011 World Cup quarter-final triumph in New Zealand, yet Ireland prevailed at the Millennium Stadium last season when O'Driscoll was among their try-scorers in a 30-22 victory.

“We’ve had some big matches against them over the years. We’ve had historic matches, and that is what it is all about. It is only good for the game,” Phillips added. “Hopefully, we can come out on top.on the weekend. The Aviva Stadium is a great place to play, and two years ago it was a great game of rugby for the neutral (Wales won 23-21).

“They are going to be in our face, and this is going to be a massive game. The Irish will be very tough to break down. They have a good setpiece, and their forwards did very well against Scotland on Sunday. They have threats across the park, and our defence must be on top form to get the victory. All these Irish boys are top-class players.”