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Page last updated at 06:16 GMT, Monday, 5 October 2009 07:16 UK

Hook 'may have to leave Ospreys'

James Hook
James Hook was a Grand Slam winner with Wales in 2008

Jeremy Guscott has warned Wales and Lions star James Hook he might have to leave the Ospreys if he wants to play in his favoured fly-half position.

Dan Biggar shone at number 10 as the Ospreys beat Edinburgh 31-10 on Sunday, with Hook playing at inside centre.

"If you want my honest opinion, if he wants to play number 10 then he will have to leave the club," Lions and England great Guscott told Scrum V.

"Dan Biggar has impressed me for such a young man."

Hook, famously once hailed as the 'new Barry John', has told the Ospreys he wants to be their regular fly-half as he bids to depose Stephen Jones as Wales' number 10.

The versatile 24-year-old showed some deft touches and flashes of his creative brilliance at inside centre against Edinburgh and it was his delicate offload that set up fellow Lions star Tommy Bowe for the Ospreys' opening try.

But Biggar's game-management and distribution caught the eye of Guscott, who believes the 19-year-old could be the Ospreys' long-term fly-half general.

Guscott's Hook warning

"For such a young man, he has some brains up there," Guscott told BBC Wales Sport's Scrum V show.

"He does the right thing. He's not the quickest guy in the world but he distributes and kicks well."

Hook, who graduated through the Ospreys academy system, has played at inside centre for both the Ospreys and Wales but he believes his future is at fly-half.

He has previously stated: "I want to play fly-half. If you want to be a world-class player in one position you've got to be playing there week-in, week-out.

"I've got to be playing somewhere regularly and with the Ospreys I want to be playing outside-half."

Hook struggled last season in that important role as his game-management, kicking game and authority came under huge scrutiny.

While he did not enjoy a regular position as his region's fly-half, he earned himself a late call for the 2009 Lions tour as a replacement for Leigh Halfpenny - and impressed in South Africa.

Hook, who made a try-scoring international debut on the 2006 summer tour to Argentina, did say he would play anywhere for Wales despite playing most of his 33 Wales caps as a fly-half - including in the 2008 Grand Slam winning campaign.

606: DEBATE
spartaking

Guscott believes Hook has a limited future as a centre.

"Hook may make an old-style inside centre possibly," he added.

"But in this professional era, they tend to go for the bigger guys that can bust the gain line. They don't go for the guys that have got the silky skills at centre anymore, it doesn't seem that way anyway."

Lions man-of-the-series Jamie Roberts is Wales' first-choice inside centre alongside Cardiff Blues team-mate Tom Shanklin, while Llanelli Scarlets youngster Jonathan Davies is an up-and-coming centre with huge promise.

Wales coach Warren Gatland was monitoring Hook's performance against Edinburgh closely from the Liberty Stadium stands.

And he told Scrum V: "He is doing well and Biggar is doing well at number 10.

"Hook has made some lovely touches and he is looking comfortable in the midfield."



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see also
Ospreys 31-10 Edinburgh
04 Oct 09 |  Welsh
Hook needs games at 10 - Davies
25 Sep 09 |  Welsh
Hook asks to be Ospreys' fly-half
18 Sep 09 |  Welsh
Biggar sends 10 warning to Hook
17 Aug 09 |  Welsh
Hook told to take control at 10
05 Jun 09 |  Welsh
Hook's best position not settled
12 May 09 |  Welsh
Jenkins hails Hook's temperament
12 Nov 08 |  Welsh
Wales backing Hook to bounce back
12 Sep 07 |  Welsh
Hook signs new Ospreys contract
31 Aug 07 |  Ospreys
Hook ready to direct Wales at 10
15 Mar 07 |  Welsh
NZ rate Hook in Carter's bracket
30 Nov 06 |  Welsh
Hook hailed as 'new Barry John'
15 Jun 06 |  Welsh
BBC Sport Wales coverage
03 Oct 11 |  Wales
Heineken Cup
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union
RaboDirect Pro12
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union
Anglo-Welsh Cup
11 Apr 07 |  Rugby Union


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