NEW team manager Alan Phillips today described as 'rubbish' any suggestion some of the Welsh players might not be behind national coach Graham Henry, writes Paul Tully.

The former Cardiff player said he had been part of a team in his playing days who had lost respect for a coach, and that was not the case in the Welsh camp.

"That's rubbish. I'm an outsider really. It's the first time I've been involved this year and I spend a lot of time watching how players react," said Phillips.

"I've been in that position myself in my playing days where players haven't been behind the coach and there are no signs of that at all.

"The Welsh players have real respect for Graham." Many positives had come out of the Welsh de-briefing session yesterday, said Phillips. "We are trying to identify why the edge wasn't there on Saturday and it's something we must keep an eye on," he said.

"The boys have played a lot of rugby in the last two years. "Rugby now, and it seems to be happening in our clubs as well, is a job and is there any excitement in it any more?

"How do we manage these boys to make sure there is a difference between club rugby and international rugby?

"We are trying to build up a real spirit in the camp which is different from anywhere else so that when players come here they feel part of something special. "A lot of professional sportsmen now have individual programmes for training and different things and if you are not careful will become too individualistic rather than feel part of a team.

"We want to make things more like a family with players taking responsibility for each other.

"Our half backs had poor games on Saturday. They are the decision makers and if they are struggling someone else has to grab the mantle. That didn't happen."

He added: "We looked at the game again and it was just as bad the second time around. "But we'll have no trouble getting the boys up now for the Argentina game, will we?"