The pair first played against each other at the under 21 World Cup and are trusted with delivering success to Racing Metro.
On his first appearance since the World Cup final and playing outside Phillips, Carter lived up to his billing as he kicked six points and steered Racing Metro to an authoritative victory.
It was dubbed 'la première de Dan Carter' and - despite imposing displays from fellow former All Blacks Joe Rokocoko, Ben Tamefuna and Chris Masoe all impressed - the No 10 was named man of the match.
However, while Carter has largely kept himself out of the headlines over off-field issues during his career, his new teammate Phillips has been the opposite.
Type in the Wales scrum-half's name on Google and a 'what has Mike Phillips done now' search option appears. Dig a little deeper and stories of high-profile girlfriends and late-night drinking sessions appear - including an image of him being sat on by a bouncer outside McDonald's in Cardiff at 3am before the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
"My mum gave me a hell of a rollicking,' says Phillips. "She basically said, 'you've got the world at your feet, don't blow it'. Had those things not happened, perhaps I wouldn't have got where I am now.
"I messed up. I went out for a few drinks. I wasn't in a safe environment. I should have put myself in better surroundings. You need people to watch your back.
"Letting your mother down is what hurts most. I couldn't speak to her for weeks because she needed to calm down! You don't want to be remembered for those things."
After confirming his international retirement last week, Phillips wants to be remembered for winning Grand Slams and Lions tours - or his work with children with learning disabilities - rather than as a loose cannon in Cardiff's bars.
Walking through the Saint-Germain district of Paris, he receives a text from One Direction's Niall Horan asking to catch up for a drink and recalls a story about the 22-year-old singer being asked for ID in a Irish pub. Phillips adds that, despite the risk of negative headlines, he would still encourage younger team-mates to let their hair down, rather than stick to the clean-cut path of professionalism.
"I grew up in the amateur days with Whitland RFC," he says. "It was about playing a game, then bonding over a beer with your mates. You had each other's back. Now the guys go to McDonald's for a Coke. You still have those friendships but, to a certain degree, some team-mates are more colleagues than mates.
"I grew up idolising guys like George Best, Alex Higgins, Eric Cantona and Andre Agassi - real characters. It's important to have a drink and break down barriers.
"A few years back at the Ospreys we had Shane Williams, Lee Byrne, James Hook and Gavin Henson. We would go out after every game - and ended up winning the league."
With Racing's heavy investment in the likes of Carter and Martin Castrogiovanni, Phillips is hoping to add to his silverware collection before he leaves France at the end of the season
"The first time Dan came to the stadium, the public were going crazy and there were loads of photographers,' says Phillips. "I told him we all get that treatment on our first week!"
Both men are 33, with Phillips hoping to play for two more years, possibly in the English Premiership. But he will never reach the 100-Test milestone, bowing out on 99 after a 12-year shift in the red jersey.
"When I was 16 I wrote a list of 10 things I want to achieve," says Phillips."'It's embarrassing but my mum kept it. I said I'd play for Wales over 50 times and be a great player.
"I wrote that I'm going to marry a 'dead smart bird' - those exact words - who's going to be really, really nice to me. Most came true, apart from getting married. I might write another list now because I'm coming to a new chapter.
"It was the right time to retire from Wales. When you're not playing you don't get the same banter.
"It's a bit strange but I think back to when I was young and I would have settled for 99 caps.
"Everyone wants to go out in a blaze of glory and retire with 100 caps and a World Cup medal - but we can't all be Dan Carter!"
-DAILY MAIL
