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Six Nations: Jonathan Davies backs James Hook as Wales 10

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments82

James Hook

Former Wales dual-code international Jonathan Davies says James Hook should be given the Wales number 10 shirt after injury to Rhys Priestland.

Scarlets fly-half Priestland is after undergoing surgery on a ruptured Achilles tendon.

"I think Hook deserves a chance now to play stand-off," Davies said.

"They picked him at 10 when he was not playing there for the Ospreys, and then they [Wales] don't pick him now he is playing 10 [for Perpignan]."

Priestland played in all the autumn series Tests, as Wales lost all four encounters to slip out of the International Rugby Board's top eight sides.

He completed 80 minutes against Argentina and Australia, started against New Zealand before being replaced by Hook after 68 minutes, and replaced the injured Dan Biggar after 38 minutes against Samoa.

But Priestland's injury in the Scarlets' Heineken Cup defeat by Exeter looks set to sideline him for up to six months.

While wishing Priestland well in his rehabilitation, Davies believes that the Scarlets fly-half has been struggling for form.

"It is very disappointing for Rhys Priestland," Davies added. "It is very unlucky, a bad injury and no one wants to see that. It will take a long time for him to come back and I wish him a speedy recovery.

"He has been worried about his game but when you are not playing well, sometimes you get rested and you can find your form again with your club. But that didn't happen with Rhys and unfortunately he had to do that in the public eye, playing for Wales."

Wales begin the defence of their Six Nations crown against Ireland on 2 February in Cardiff and Davies believes that Hook must start the campaign at fly-half.

Hook replaced the injured Jamie Roberts at centre after 24 minutes against Argentina in November, was not selected for the Samoa game and was unavailable on club duty for the final autumn Test against Australia.

"I don't know why they didn't select James Hook in the autumn Tests. Unless you are involved in that squad, it is difficult to say what their thinking is," Davies said.

"Whether it is because he plays in France, or whether they think he doesn't fit in structurally, I don't know.

"They know what Dan Biggar can do because he does it week in, week out, but I think this is an opportunity for Hook now.

"There is also Rhys Patchell at Cardiff Blues who is a very good player. He is only 19 but they might bring him in to see how he gets on in training.

"But in some of his decision-making I don't think he is ready yet. He hasn't played a lot of first-class rugby but they might bring him into the squad because he has shown a lot of potential.

"At the moment he is a promising young lad but he has got a great attitude, he is intelligent and I think he will learn very quickly."

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82 comments

  • Comment posted by Rev James, at 10:21 12 Dec 2012

    Blindside, both Hook and Lee Byrne are playing very well in France. Perhaps we should have a 7 Nations Tournament with an Exiled Welsh International side making up the seventh team

  • Comment posted by GM Massingbird, at 10:01 12 Dec 2012

    Good on ye Hersh, if I was a selector I would refuse to pick anyone who has a Vodaphone contract buying an Amazon Book or witnessed having a cuppa at Starbucks.

    After all its revolting anyway.

  • Comment posted by U15522366, at 09:57 12 Dec 2012

    @18 but Wales is part of the UK so I have no problem with Wales picking Henson just because he plays in England, he pays his taxes etc...

  • Comment posted by U15536233, at 09:54 12 Dec 2012

    The selectors SHOULD pick the players who are playing well for their clubs, either in Wales, England or France!

  • Comment posted by GM Massingbird, at 09:45 12 Dec 2012

    derek, Agree on Phillips, he has an ok pass and he is physically strong, but he spends about a second (a long time for a 9) having a look around after he picks the ball up. He should just throw it really. He gives anybody wanting to close the 10 down a free run as when he picks the ball up the blitz are all on-side,

    Yet Wales fans seem to blame Priestland for this.

  • Comment posted by DerekAngel, at 09:39 12 Dec 2012

    Hook was the fly half when we won the GS in 2008, was instrumental in every try and didnt miss a single conversion or penalty. Graham Henry said he would push Dan Carter for the berth if he was an AB. Yet Ospreys and Wales messed around with him. Get him back and get a scrum half who moves the ball quicker than Phillips - maybe North, Cuthbert, Roberts and JD would then be able to do something.

  • Comment posted by Bomber, at 15:14 12 Dec 2012

    @59 All a smokescreen. Gethin Jenkins and Mike Phillips can go to France and start for Wales, James Hook can't. Andy Powell can play in London and start for Wales but Dwayne Peel in Manchester can't. Remember Gareth Delve was dropped for playing in Gloucester and ''it is hard to get hold of him''. It's jobs for the boys and if you are a favourites, you'll play. Gats hates Hook; it's that simple.

  • Comment posted by U1678103, at 14:19 12 Dec 2012

    I don't understand what the problem is with players going to France to play.

    If you had an effective working span of 15 years (roughly), and someone offered you a lot more money than you could earn in Wales, to go work in another country, you'd have to be a moron to turn it down. And I'm sure the people here criticising the Welsh players for doing that would take up the offer!

  • Comment posted by U15145471, at 12:52 12 Dec 2012

    Hook is not the answer, people have a short memory and the public is so undereducated and fickle when it come to welsh rugby.
    Hook has been nothing more than average for Wales and Perp, Biggar is solid but not of international class, Preistalnd has all the attributes but has lost form, but that's a null point now he's injured, I like Morgan but I think he lacks the size.. Tough times for Wales.

  • Comment posted by U3246151, at 11:06 12 Dec 2012

    Hook is a great player, if a little inconsistent. The problem now is that having been recommended by the Great Sage himself it's inconceivable that he be allowed to play.

    If Jiffy's eye for rugby talent is the same as his predictive powers for important matches I would bet the house on James Hook being mysteriously injured by a grand piano falling out of nowhere sometime in the next few weeks ;-)

  • Comment posted by athomas89, at 10:32 12 Dec 2012

    You cannot blame players going to France.....heading across the channel for 3/4 years and get paid 350,000+ a year, setting your family up for after you retire......I wouldn't think twice! Not to mention your playing a higher standard of rugby thus improving your game!

  • Comment posted by MJ542, at 10:10 12 Dec 2012

    @21 Henson may be paying his taxes by playing in England, but you cannot discriminate against the boys playing in France as we are part of European market and if you say they cannot play for for Wales by working over there, it's almost saying nobody from Europe is allowed to work in the UK

  • Comment posted by U6781293, at 10:08 12 Dec 2012

    If wales played any sort of offloading game Hook would be involved every match in some capacity, be at it 10, 13 or 15. Sadly though we are now a bunch of gym monkeys who die with the ball time and again.
    Hook is a showstopper, a maverick capable of the unexpected. Sadly there is no place for this type in the Welsh set up, particularly with Howley at the wheel.

  • Comment posted by U15508026, at 09:59 12 Dec 2012

    Of course Hook should be at 10 and should have been there for the last 12 months. Why do we always waste our talent by trying to control professionals? Lee Byrne and Dwayne Peel are other examples whose peak of their careers we have wasted because they have refused to stay in Wales to play. Dan Lydiate will be the next to get the cold shoulder all because he is seeking to maximise his career.

  • Comment posted by WarriorRob, at 09:49 12 Dec 2012

    I am not Welsh, but would have James Hook playing 10 in any side in world rugby.

    He is without doubt the best player that Wales have in the back line, and the problem he presents is that he is world class at 10, 12, 13 and 15.

    But he is a natural 10 and should be first pick at 10 for Wales in every game he is available for.

    If only Scotland had the luxury of having Hook!!!!!

  • Comment posted by Penboy, at 09:46 12 Dec 2012

    Unless he's injured then Biggar will start vs Ireland with Hook on the bench. Unless the our pack fronts up however then who plays at out half is irrelevant.

  • Comment posted by U15536233, at 09:28 12 Dec 2012

    I wish Priestland a speedy recovery and I agree that Hook should be given the chance at 10.
    Hook gives that extra dimension and edge, he is a very talented player and I don't understand why he hasn't been used at 10 with Wales.
    I think as stated before that he doesn't fit in with Gatland's plans and is also being punished for playing in France.
    Why also isn't Lee Byrne playing for Wales?

  • Comment posted by U13860838, at 09:28 12 Dec 2012

    Henson? As I understand it, he's played something like 5/16 games. If he can't get into the London Welsh team, he's got no chance of playing for Wales.

  • Comment posted by U15535888, at 14:53 13 Dec 2012

    Go for Hook. The French League is a much tougher proving ground than the Rabo14 and he's been playing well. Biggar would make an excellent replacement if necessary and the backline wouldn't have to change its shape. Whoever plays at 10, I'd go with Lloyds Williams or Knoyle at 9 to shift the pivot from SH to FH. In any case, I think injuries to the forwards are the bigger problem.

  • Comment posted by U15301732, at 14:26 13 Dec 2012

    Hook is the right choice i think, he is still 28 and has many years left in a Welsh jersey, providing hes still playing as well as he is now, at the start of the 6N, he should start at 10. Patchell and Morgan will probably be in the squad for the exp, and likely play on the summer tour of Japan, maybe the AI's after, but for now, its either Hook or Bigger and i'd go with Hook.

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