 James Hook has won caps for Wales at fly-half, centre and full-back |
Wales coach Warren Gatland should select James Hook at full-back for the match against New Zealand on Saturday, says BBC Sport's Jonathan Davies. Former Wales star fly-half Davies told Scrum V that Hook should edge Leigh Halfpenny for the number 15 jersey. "I've gone for James Hook at full-back," said Davies. "He played there for the [British and Irish] Lions so they know what he's capable of." Gatland will name his team on Monday to face the All Blacks. Davies also wants scrum-half Gareth Cooper to regain his confidence with a starting place. In the absence of the injured Mike Phillips (ankle) and Dwayne Peel's unavailability due to red tape over player-release with his English club Sale, Davies says Cooper should start ahead of Scarlet Martin Roberts. But Davies fears the absence of Adam Jones (shoulder) from the number three jersey leaves Wales handicapped whoever is chosen there against the All Blacks.  | 606: DEBATE |
Gatland has the option of inexperienced Osprey Craig Mitchell, the only recognised tight-head in his squad, his team-mate Paul James or Gethin Jenkins. Davies would reluctantly opt for the latter with Duncan Jones on the loosehead side of the scrum. "Phillips is injured, Dwayne Peel is not available," said Davies. "Gareth really needs to recapture his confidence. Again, the front-row is our weakness. You pick Gethin at tight-head and you are taking what he is good at from the loose. "But you can't put someone with such inexperience in against the Blacks at prop." With Jonathan Thomas banned for a punch he threw against Cardiff Blues recently, Davies would partner Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones at lock. And he plumps for a "form" back-row of Dafydd Jones, Ryan Jones and Martyn Williams. However, he would not take the advice of fellow pundit Jeremy Guscott, who would like to see powerful Blues' wing Tom James in ahead of Shane Williams. "Jerry was on about maybe leaving Shane out and putting Tom James in. Tom James is playing really well - this is what you want. You want people pushing players in the current position for their places. "Then it's Charteris in the second-row - Jonathan Thomas is banned - and you've got Dafydd Jones or [Sam] Warburton, or you put Ryan Jones in at number six. "But I think that's the form back-row [Dafydd Jones, Ryan Jones and Martyn Williams]."  | If you get McCaw and you tackle him, you've got to put him on the floor |
Guscott wants lock Alun-Wyn Jones to rise to his growing reputation against the All Blacks. He said: "The one player I'd love to see have a cracking game is Alun Wyn Jones. People have talked about him being a Martin Johnson/Paul O'Connell type. "On the Lions tour he was a bit quiet. This could be his game to really stand out as 'I'm your pack on my own' because he's an athlete, he's a young man, he's physical. "He just needs to add that back-row dimension to his game or, probably, get a bit bigger and a bit harder." Davies says Wales must deal with the threat posed by All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, who helped create one of their tries in victory over Australia in Tokyo on Saturday. "The first try against Australia, McCaw was involved in it twice so there's a lesson there," said Davies. "If you get McCaw and you tackle him, you've got to put him on the floor."
Jonathan Davies' Wales XV: James Hook; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Jamie Roberts, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones, Gareth Cooper; Duncan Jones, Matthew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun-Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris, Dafydd Jones, Ryan Jones, Martyn Williams.
Wales squad for autumn international series: Backs: Dan Biggar James Hook, Shane Williams (Ospreys); Gareth Cooper, Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Tom James, Leigh Halfpenny (Blues); Martin Roberts, Stephen Jones, Jonathan Davies, Mark Jones (Scarlets); Dwayne Peel (Sale). Forwards: Paul James, Duncan Jones, Craig Mitchell, Huw Bennett, Alun Wyn Jones, Ryan Jones (capt), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins, Bradley Davies, Andy Powell, Sam Warburton, Martyn Williams (Blues); Matthew Rees, Dafydd Jones (Scarlets); Luke Charteris, Dan Lydiate (Dragons).
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