Legendary Wales prop Adam Jones has spoken of Mike Phillips' invaluable advice that helped him become arguably the best tighthead in the world during his career.
Jones won three Grand Slams with Wales, one of only 13 Welshmen to have earned the accolade. 'Bomb', as he is more commonly known, also played five Tests for the British and Irish Lions, in South Africa and Australia during 2009 and 2013 respectively.
Speaking to Rugby World magazine, he revealed fellow Lions tourist and Wales team-mate Phillips taught him to look at himself in a different way to become the best.
"The best advice I received was from Mike Phillips with the Lions in 2009," Jones said.
"One morning, we were doing a World XV and I'd basically put the whole South Africa team in. He told me if I wanted to be the best prop in the world I had to stop giving these people too much respect. I realised he was right."
Jones would go on to put in a mammoth performance against the Boks, outmuscling Tendai 'The Beast' Mtawarira in one scrummage that the Lion said "changed his career".
Phillips, of course, was the rock star of that 2009 tour, taking the battle to the Springboks with his confrontational confidence and style.
Jones would go from strength to strength, before retiring from international duty in 2015.
Speaking to WalesOnline, Phillips described Jones as the best player he played with for Wales, saying: "I would always worry if he was out.
"If anyone else was injured, there would always be someone to come in, but with Adam, for many years, there was no-one else, was there?
"Adam was pivotal. He was such a scrummager. As a nine, you’ve got that platform and you would win those penalties from scrums.
"Early on, we would get nine points, 12 points up through scrums. That eases the team and gives you a platform to launch and express yourselves.
"He was outstanding for the Lions as well. You think of the last Test in Australia in 2013. We were winning penalty, penalty, penalty at scrum-time and it was all down to him, really, and the others.
"Adam was a huge player, a very valuable player for Wales. He was immense for me."
Jones finished his playing career at Harlequins in 2018, going on to be scrum coach at the club. Now, five years since he hung up the boots, Jones says coaching has been hard at times but appreciates the change in pace.
"It's definitely tougher to take a loss as a coach than a player. I used to be able to park things easily but it's way harder now.
"The best thing about being a coach is the fact you've got the whole week, and the build-up to the game, so you're involved in things. There's still this little kind of buzz and the excitement that comes with it. It's just the 80 minutes that is a bit of a pain.
"The hardest part about being a coach is match day. You just put your plans in place and you're kind of reliant on what the boys are doing, and it's tough. The hardest bit is that you're not able to physically impact anything.
The interview with Jones was included in April's edition of 'Rugby World' Magazine, which is in shops now.
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