Brain pays tribute to Bristol's Mr Versatile
The 22-year-old from Cleve has played in all nine of Bristol's Championship matches this season, switching positions to cover injuries to locks Nathan Budgett and Roy Winters.
But rather than needing time to adjust to his positional shift, Phillips – a blindside flanker or No 8 by trade – has made an instant impression in the No 4 shirt.
And forwards coach Brain can see plenty of similarities between Bristol's versatile youngster and hard-working Gloucester veteran Peter Buxton.
"I told James Phillips last year that he had the ability to play lock," said Brain, who played in that position for Gloucester. "I see Phillips as being a similar player to Peter Buxton – he can play 8, 6 or 4 depending on the needs of the team.
"He has adjusted very well. He still has some technical areas that need work, at the line-out and restart in particular. But he is a very good rugby player – he offers the team a lot in attack, he is a ball-carrier, he is quite a skilful player and he is good at the breakdown for a big man.
"It is always good if one of your locks has the skills normally associated with the back row – and we are quite aware that Phillips is a good 6, a good 8 and has made a good start to the season."
Phillips is one of a host of local youngsters who have started to make an impression on the Bristol first team, with Redford Pennycook and Iain Grieve also featuring regularly this season. And coming from the background he did at Gloucester, where locally-raised players are held in the highest regard, Brain is delighted to see a number of Bristolians now making their mark at Bristol.
"People like Phillips, Pennycook and Grieve understand what it means to the supporters – and they are all desperate to play for Bristol," said Brain.
"Having that in your team is a good thing. We obviously always pick on ability, but if players have both ability and that bit of a local bond, then I think it's good for the team."
Head coach Paul Hull has been equally impressed by Phillips' start to the campaign – and says he is reaping the benefits of a good pre-season and a focused approach off the field.
"James has been around for a while, but I believe he's really focused now," said Hull.
"He's a lot more focused on what he needs to do to be a professional rugby player and he's reaping the benefits of that.
"He's really applying himself, both with his 'homework' in the analysis room, his work on the training ground and what he's doing on the pitch.
"His fitness levels have increased, his strength has increased and his game understanding has increased.
"Sometimes we can overcomplicate the game, but James wants to hit people if they've got the ball and carry it if he's got it. That's the type of player we like."
Phillips, who scored his first try of the season in last weekend's 46-28 win over Coventry, is likely to figure again when Bristol go to Plymouth tomorrow.
Bristol (from): Backs – L Arscott, T Arscott, D Norton, J Adams, J Fatialofa, L Eves, A Jarvis, C Ashwin, J Spice, R Shaw, S Alford. Forwards – A Clarke, M Irish, D Crompton, W Thompson, D Blaney, O Hayes, D Barry, J Phillips, N Budgett, R Winters, I Grieve, J Merriman, D Montagu.
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