Neil Jenkins is the Welsh international record points-scorer

Neil Jenkins praised Wales star James Hook's powers of recovery to come back from his despair against world champions South Africa.

Fly-half Hook's error effectively cost Wales victory on Saturday but Jenkins hailed his recovery as 'incredible."

"He was devastated by what happened with his first touch but from then on he was absolutely fantastic," said Wales' skills coach Jenkins.

Hook returns to the Millennium Stadium for Wales' clash with Canada on Friday.

Hook's intercepted pass was accepted gratefully by Springbok centre Jean de Villiers.

It was the Ospreys star's first touch after he went on as a second-half substitute for Stephen Jones- and de Villiers raced more than 50 metres to claim a simple try.

If it's a kick to win a match or something, James Hook does it....he seems to have that composure Wales skills coach Neil Jenkins

But legendary Welsh fly-half Jenkins pointed-out: "I've watched James from a young kid growing up, and he just seems to brush mistakes aside.

"He took the ball to the line, defended well and kicked well. He was a threat all the time he was on the pitch.

"To recover when an incident like that one was your first touch was pretty impressive stuff.

"He seems to have that composure.

"If it's a kick to win a match or something, he does it - he has an ability to blank out what has gone before and just live for that moment.

"He played some great rugby when he went on against South Africa."

The 23-year-old will start for Wales against Canada in his preferred fly-half position for the first time since their Grand Slam clincher against France in Cardiff in March.

And Hook requires just four points to become the seventh Welshman to reach 200 Test points after Jenkins, Stephen Jones, Paul Thorburn, Shane Williams, Arwel Thomas and Gareth Thomas.

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