Mike Phillips powers through to score his try against Japan

Phillips starred in Wales' 72-18 victory at the Millennium Stadium on Thursday night, scoring one try and creating another for Shane Williams.

And after playing second fiddle to Dwayne Peel over the past year, Phillips feels he has done enough to take charge of the number nine jersey.

"I needed a big game and I think I proved a point," said Phillips.

Wales scored 11 tries to complete a record World Cup score and now face Fiji in their final Pool B World Cup game in Nantes on 29 September.

Coach Gareth Jenkins has some tricky selection decisions to make ahead of their deciding game and the choice of who to pick at scrum-half is no different.

I don't see why I can't be number one for my country Mike Phillips

Peel looked in pole position before the Japan game, but Phillips showed exactly why he is rated so highly with a mercurial performance on Thursday.

"I needed a big statement tonight and I think I've done that, I don't see why I can't be number one for my country and I'm delighted with how it went and how I played.

"I'm hopeful of starting against Fiji, I've been training hard and have sat on the bench for too long now.

"It is an amazing feeling to run out for Wales and I'm delighted with how I played."

Despite the emphatic nature of the score Wales didn't have it all their own way, with Japan scoring two excellent tries.

Kosuke Endo scored Japan's first-half effort finishing off a length of the field move in one of the great World Cup tries.

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And Hirotoki Onozawa got their second with an equally impressive try, outpacing the Welsh backs to run home from 60 metres.

Phillips admitted Japan deserved a lot credit for their performance.

"Japan put up a great fight and made it very difficult for us.

"They played hard and scored two tries and full credit to them.

"It was a tough opening 20 minutes but we kept our style and got the win.