Mike Phillips has taken a swipe at Wales' scrum-half selection policy during the Six Nations and says Tomos Williams got a raw deal from the new-look coaching team.
The Cardiff Blues number nine started three of the four matches Wales completed, but was dropped to the bench for their Cardiff clash with France and left out of the squad entirely for the postponed finale against Scotland.
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac chose Rhys Webb for that Scottish clash and plumped for Gareth Davies on the bench ahead of Williams.
Webb would have been the third different starting scrum-half of the campaign, with Williams playing against Italy, Ireland and Italy and Davies in the home defeat to France.
And although 94-times capped Wales great Phillips currently has the three Welsh scrum-halves in the box seat to tour South Africa with Warren Gatland's Lions next year, he felt for 25-year-old Williams during the Six Nations.
"I like Tomos Williams and it's been a funny one," he told the BBC Scrum V Podcast.
"They've chopped and changed and I think it's been kind of unfair, because as a nine and 10, you touch the ball more than anybody. You need that consistency.
"It's been tough for him.
"Obviously you know what Gareth Davies can do, Rhys Webb coming back we know what he can do and he's looked good. But I think Tomos has done really well, to be fair."
However, while he appears to feel Williams should have stayed in the nine role, Phillips insisted that if the Lions were picking on current form the three Welsh stars would each be picked.
"I think it's a great chance for them," he said.
Asked on the podcast who were the toughest scrum-halves he lined up against during his own glittering career, Phillips went for one who made just six appearances in the position during his 103-caps for the Wallabies.
"I played against Matt Giteau once - he was playing nine for Australia," explained Phillips.
"He was phenomenal. We toured over there and lost one game in the last minute.
"He's such a great rugby player, who could play nine, 10 and 12 and be absolute world class with the way he brought the forwards on."
And Phillips went on to name a second, who he had a great rivalry with in the opposing ranks and also as a team-mate at the Ospreys.
"Justin Marshall, I played a couple of games against him. One was for the Blues against the Ospreys and he probably had the better of me that day," he said.
"I'd already signed for the Ospreys and I thought great, go there and learn from one of the best with 90 caps and an international legend."
But he said: "He didn't give me one bit of advice and didn't even talk to me really."
