Wales drop Phillips and give Webb scrum-half berth

Wales boss Warren Gatland pulled no punches after dropping scrum-half star Mike Phillips for tomorrow night’s crunch RBS 6 Nations clash against France in Cardiff.

Phillips, who has won 82 caps, made his international debut in 2003 and was the Lions Test number nine against Australia last summer, will be on the bench for a game Wales must win to keep alive their title hopes.

Phillips makes way for full Test debutant Rhys Webb following Wales’ 26-3 drubbing by Ireland 11 days ago, while wing George North moves to outside centre, Liam Williams wears the number 11 shirt and fit-again lock Luke Charteris replaces Andrew Coombs.