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Page last updated at 07:21 GMT, Friday, 11 February 2011

Andy Nicol doubts 'lost' fly-half James Hook

2011 SIX NATIONS: SCOTLAND v WALES
Venue: Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 12 February Kick-off: 1700 GMT
Coverage: Watch live on BBC One from 1635, and on the Red Button and online; listen on BBC Radio 5 live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website and mobiles. Also broadcast on BBC America.


James Hook in Wales training
Andy Nicol says James Hook has talent 'by the bundle'

BBC pundit Andy Nicol says Wales are taking a risk by fielding James Hook at fly-half against Scotland in the Six Nations on Saturday at Murrayfield.

Nicol says Hook "looked lost" when he switched to number 10 at the end of their opening 26-19 defeat by England.

Nicol says Hook's lack of game-time there for the Ospreys means "there's an element of risk in that [selection]".

But ex-Wales lock Gareth Llewellyn says Scotland 10 Dan Parks can be a weakness saying: "We need to target him."

Hook has taken over from veteran Stephen Jones at fly-half, with the latter on the bench after limited training time due to a neck injury.

Jones' Scarlets understudy Rhys Priestland is also on the bench, but Hook has seen Dan Biggar rise above him in the Ospreys' fly-half pecking order.

Biggar lost his Six Nations Wales squad spot to Priestland following the November Tests in which he was openly criticised by backs coach Robert Howley for his display in their 16-16 draw with Fiji.

So Hook achieves his ambition of again donning Wales' number 10 jersey.

But Nicol said the selection could backfire on Wales coach Warren Gatland.

"I've been a huge fan of James Hook for many years, [I] just think he's a mercurial talent," said Nicol.

"But going back to the question of should he be playing for the Ospreys [at 10] before Wales, he's now doing one without the other.

"He's now going into a Welsh number 10 shirt in international rugby to try and conduct things and control the game from a position he's not had a huge amount of experience [lately].

"And that is very, very difficult. Because in that position, more than anything, you need to play there week-in, week-out.

"And I noticed when he came in for that last 15 minutes on Friday night against England, he just seemed a bit lost, which is only to be expected because he's not played there.

"So there's no risk on ability because James Hook has got ability by the bundle. But the risk is he's not played there and there's an element of risk in that."

However, Llewellyn told Scrum V that Cardiff Blues fly-half Parks' defence is suspect, adding: "Parks is a strength and weakness and we need to target him."

See the full interview with Andy Nicol on Friday's Sport Wales, BBC Two Wales (2130-2200 GMT).



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