With no disrespect to Dan Biggar, the Welsh fly-half spot is not a forgone conclusion at the moment. Wales did have an improving Six Nations, but they still need to up their game before the World Cup if they want to be seriously considered as potential winners (particularly given the group of death they’re in with England, Australia, Fiji and Uruguay). If Hook had started the first Wales game of the Six Nations, maybe this wouldn’t have happened:
It seems strange that James Hook didn’t make the squad at any point during the Six Nations. Traditionally the Welsh love a fly-half who can take the ball to line and offer a running threat. This season I think he’s been in good form for Gloucester. He leads the “most players beaten” stats in the premiership (note – this might have changed after last weekend), he’s been able to kick well out of hand and we all know he has a decent amount of flair (it’s the first try on the video below):
Hook stated earlier this year that he had spoken to the Welsh backs coach Rob Howley, who had told him they wanted a ten who straightened up and fixed defenders, rather than running sideways like Hook does. Jonathan Davies said that his versatility (he has played at 12, 13 and 15 as well) has taught him this and therefore this is the cause of the death of his international career. Hook has said that since then he’s been working on changing that side of his game. Hopefully he still has enough to convince Gatland that he can indeed implement this before September.
Recently Hook was asked by BBC presenter Jason Mohammad if he had a message for Warren Gatland, looking ahead for the World Cup. He replied, “Yeah, I’m still here so errr…please?” He has 77 caps already so has no lack of experience and at 29 years old should be playing at his peak.
Do you think Hook deserves another shot in the warm-up games? Why do you think he lost his place in the first places? Here’s a tribute video of Hook in 2013 which show cases a bit of what he can offer:
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I think it should be Biggar and hook and drop priestland,