James Hook played inside centre in the Ospreys' win over Edinburgh

The Ospreys insist James Hook is happy to play centre despite the Wales star saying he wants to figure at fly-half.

Hook is set to wear the number 12 jersey in the opening Heineken Cup clash at Leicester, outside Dan Biggar.

Director of coaching Scott Johnson claims Hook is more than content to cede the 10 shirt to teenager Biggar.

"A conversation went like this and I quote: 'Mate, would you [Hook] like to play another position like 12 to have a look?'. 'I'd love to'," Johnson said.

"So can there be no ambiguity there. That's exactly the conversation that occurred and when a kid says to me, 'I'd love to', I think that is a pretty positive statement. So there has been no concerns."

But Hook told BBC Wales' Scrum V programme in September he wanted to concentrate on playing outside-half.

He said then: "I think it's important for me to be playing in one position.

"Because moving about all the time, it's easier to put me on the bench than start me in a position.

I've never seen a person playing at 12 [and it affecting him at] 10 as well Ospreys director of coaching Scott Johnson

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

"If I get selected for Wales I'll play anywhere but, at the moment, I want to just settle in one position and with the way the game is going, I think you can't play outside-half one week and centre another week."

British & Irish Lions coach Ian McGeechan believes Hook's best role for the Ospreys is at number 10.

But for Wales, with the Scarlets and Lions starter Stephen Jones at outside-half, Lions coach McGeechan sees more of a midfield role for Hook.

"I think with the Ospreys you would still probably look at him at 10," McGeechan told BBC Scrum V Radio.

"I thought he was outstanding on the [Lions] tour [to South Africa]. I thought he took extra responsibility and he understood the importance of key decisions and playing the game in the right place. He is a talented player.

"I had one or two chats to him about responsibilities about where the team played and how we brought others into the game. He was outstanding in that respect.

"But if you are looking in a Welsh context with Stephen Jones, then you are looking at midfield combinations as well."

But BBC punters Jonathan Davies and Jeremy Guscott both say it is imperative that 24-year-old Hook has a run of games at outside-half.

Johnson, however, believes in the long run that Hook playing at inside centre will help his outside-half ambitions.

"I think at times for different people a good way to learn [outside-half] is to be a second receiver a little bit. You get to see the light a different way," claimed Johnson.

"He is not a natural talker just yet. He's not that way. But he has got all the intricate skills that are needed to be an up-front line player.

606: DEBATE Should James Hook be playing at outside-half?

"I've never seen a person playing at 12 [and it affecting him at] 10 as well. We are trying to do the best decisions for the lad. He is a pretty special player and a pretty special person and I'm glad I'm coaching him."

On the Hook-Biggar selection issue at outside-half Johnson said: "It's an issue in the regard that depends on the style of footie you want to play really.

"Dan Biggar has been exceptional. He's brash, confident, and prepared to tell a 40-year-old where to go, which is unusual for a Welsh boy of that age.

"So it's quite refreshing-daunting, whatever what you want to call it.

"He wants to stand up to the plate and for a 19-year-old kid there is much to like about that.

"There is no greater admirer than me of James Hook. I think he is a wonderful, wonderful player.

"We are trying to fit the balance of the great skills we have got at both ends of the spectrum. So I think we are pretty dangerous if they are side-by-side."

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