Mike Phillips says Warren Gatland is 'laughing all the way to the bank' in surprise public dig

Former Wales scrum-half Mike Phillips has taken aim at Warren Gatland after the Wales coach's post-match interview was posted to social media.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the 24-19 loss against Fiji, Gatland explained that there were a lot of positives to take from the game, despite Wales losing their 10th match in a row.

Ultimately it is a results-based business and pressure is growing on Gatland and his coaches to turn things around.

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Writing on X, formerly Twitter, Phillips said: "Loads of positives yeah, you’re on 600k a year and don’t even have to win! How the WRU bring this guy back is just nuts! Laughing all the way to the bank."

Phillips has previously voiced his thoughts on Gatland returning to his role as head coach of Wales.

Speaking to RugbyPass' Offload podcast last year, the former Wales and Lions scrum-half said: "He's gone down to New Zealand and he's barely won a game. Why has he taken this (Wales) role? He had the perfect story as Welsh coach - he came in with a Grand Slam, he left with a Grand Slam, he had a Grand Slam in the middle. People love him.

"That was like the perfect ending so it just seems... what's his 'Why?' to come back and coach? Is it purely for money or what's the reason? Is it because he perhaps didn't have the success he wanted down in New Zealand?"

In a Q&A published on Midi Olympique Rugbyrama a few weeks after the RugbyPass podcast, Phillips said: "He has a good contract, with a lot of money at stake. He had a great time with Wales, it was he who won us three Grand Slams, but I think we should have chosen a different coach.

"No one is forever, you can't play or coach forever for Wales, you should have moved on. But the problem is not so much the coach's choice, the problem is how we got to this situation. The federation [Welsh Rugby Union] could have taken the best coach in the world but I don't think the team would have won more."

Phillips was part of Gatland's hugely successful era that spanned from 2008 to 2019, and won 94 caps for his country before hanging up his Test boots nine years ago.

He was part of the Grand Slam-winning Gatland teams of 2008 and 2012, before playing a part in the iconic 30-3 victory against England to secure the championship in 2013.