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A LOT can happen in 12 months.
Last year Dwayne Peel was heading to New Zealand with the Lions hoping to make his mark on perhaps the biggest stage of all and prove to the world why many pundits believe he's the best No 9 around.
Mike Phillips was heading in a different direction - to North America with Wales, aiming to win a chance to take on the southern hemisphere big guns back at the Millennium Stadium in the autumn as Peel's understudy.
Peel got injured in New Zealand and struggled for fitness for the next 12 months, while Phillips impressed in the convincing wins against the United States and Canada to put himself firmly in the thoughts of Wales coach Mike Ruddock.
And with Peel ruled out with an achilles injury it was to Phillips who Ruddock turned for the autumn opener with New Zealand - the 23-year-old Blues No 9 getting the nod ahead of 26-times capped Gareth Cooper, himself returning from ankle surgery and short of playing time.
 Ruddock admitted he had been bowled over by the 6ft 3in youngster's form on the summer tour and since his move to the Arms Park from Llanelli. Phillips' only previous Wales starts had come against Romania, the United States and Canada, along with cameo appearances as a replacement against Japan and Argentina, and now he was coming up against the All Blacks.
And it was a baptism of fire as the Kiwis romped to a 40-3 victory and Phillips was given the runaround by Byron Kelleher and replaced after the break by Cooper.
That put Dragons No 9 Cooper in pole position but in the embarrassing 11-10 win over Fiji it was he who looked sluggish and desperately short of conditioning. But he kept his place in the starting lineup for the improved performance against South Africa, with Phillips coming on for the final 10 minutes in the 33-16 defeat.
Cooper did enough against the Springboks to convince Ruddock to stick with him for the fantastic 24-22 win over former world champions Australia and produced his best performance of the series.
So with Peel on the road to recovery and Cooper coming back to form events had turned against Phillips, now No 3 in the pecking order again.
Peel had recovered for the start of the Six Nations but could do nothing to prevent a 47-13 England victory. Phillips was out of the picture, with Cooper serving as Peel's understudy.
Wales fixtures |
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Summer tour
11 June 2006 - Argentina v Wales, Puerto Madryn, Patagonia
17 June 2006 - Argentina v Wales, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Autumn series
04 Nov 06 - Wales v Australia, Millennium Stadium
11 Nov 06 - Wales v Pacific Islands, Millennium Stadium
17 Nov 06 - Wales v Canada, Millennium Stadium
25 Nov 06 - Wales v New Zealand, Millennium Stadium
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Six Nations
3 Feb 2007 - Wales v Ireland, Millennium Stadium
10 Feb 2007 - Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield
24 Feb 2007 - France v Wales, Stade de France
10 March 2007 - Italy v Wales, Stadio Flaminio
17 March 2007 - Wales v England, Millennium Stadium
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But disaster struck when Cooper came on for Peel and damaged his shoulder late in the game. That brought Phillips back into the frame as the injury was to rule Cooper out for the rest of the season.
However Peel was still the No 1 choice for the unconvincing 28-18 win against Scotland, although Phillips did come on for the final 10 minutes.
Then the bombshell dropped - Ruddock was stepping down as coach - sending shockwaves across the nation. Aussie Scott Johnson was put in temporay charge as the WRU imploded as player-power was blamed for Ruddock's sudden departure.
It didn't bode well for the Ireland showdown at Lansdowne Road. Johnson stuck with the tried-and-tested for his first game at the helm, Peel at No 9 with Phillips on the bench.
It was no surprise that Ireland inflicted a 31-5 defeat and Wales sank into an even deeper malaise. Next up it was Italy and a chance for Wales to begin the healing process.
Johnson kept the same formula at scrum-half but fortune again smiled kindly on Phillips as Peel was forced out of the game after only eight minutes.
Unfortunately it coincided with Wales' darkest hour of the Six Nations, a dismal 18-18 draw in which the Azzurri were desperately unlucky not to record a famous win at the Millennium Stadium. Things couldn't really get much worse for Wales after the thrilling Grand Slam triumph in 2005 the nation was again in crisis.
Roll up France, locked in a titanic battle with Ireland for the Six Nations title. This time there wasn't any competition for the scrum-half berth and Phillips produced his best performance at Test level as the Welsh were unlucky to lose a 21-16 thriller in which they salvaged some pride after a tumultuous year.
And with Cooper certain to miss June's two Tests against Argentina and Peel needing time to build himself back up after a difficult year, Phillips again has a chance to stake his claim for a World Cup place in 2007.
"I want a big end of season and am plodding away with that aim in mind," said the 23-year-old. "I really enjoyed the match against France and, of course, I want to stay in the team. But it's up to me to prove myself."
His accomplished performance against France and the Blues' end-of-season resurgence has seen Phillips blossom since his move to the Arms Park from Stradey last summer.
"I've loved it from the first game," he said. "We've lost the odd game here and there, but I've really enjoyed my rugby.
"The boys are great and I like living in Cardiff. I hope it stays that way."
Phillips admits having regular opportunities with the Blues - he has started 17 matches - has been beneficial for his game.
"I've got to play week-in, week-out. You gain confidence then. It's my first season in a new setup, but it's been good."
Former Wales captain Rob Howley, who joined the Blues as backs coach at the same time as Phillips, has provided specialist advice and the improvements are beginning to pay off but there's a new man in charge of Wales now.
Former Scarlets boss Gareth Jenkins has taken over the mantle of Wales coach and he knows all there is to know about Peel and Phillips. Phillips was Peel's understudy at Stradey and moved to the Blues to find a way out from behind his shadow.
Jenkins has said he intends to rest his stars for the trip to Argentina but Peel hasn't been short of rest of late and will probably be champing at the bit to go to South America but Jenkins may see it as a chance to view how far Phillips has really come since his move east. Who's your money on?
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