Wales lost two games and drew one under caretaker coach Scott Johnson

Ospreys director of rugby Scott Johnson believes Wales as a nation is obsessed with the number 10 position.

The focus on Wales' team selection for this season's Six Nations has been on the battle between Stephen Jones and James Hook for the fly-half role.

Jones was dropped following the defeat to England, but he returns on Saturday to face Italy, with Hook at centre.

"It never ceases to amaze me in Wales that we have this focal point on 10 for some reason - 12 is key," said Johnson.

"It's just incredible - I've never seen a country like it. We have this thing that the number 10 is the bee's knees of everything.

"I find it absolutely staggering. It's this amazing ability that we have to focus on one position - it's this issue we have in Wales that we have to get over."

Coach Warren Gatland's response to the opening 19-26 Six Nations defeat at home to England was to drop Jones - criticised for a lack of creativity - for the trip to Murrayfield, with Hook moving from full-back to occupy the playmaker role.

We don't focus on the number 12 position so can we start focussing on other players as well? Scott Johnson

The move paid off as Hook, who had not played fly-half for Wales since 2009, hardly put a foot wrong in a dominant opening 20-minute period which laid the foundations for the 6-24 victory.

But Gatland's plans to stick to the winning formula were ruined by a hamstring injury to centre Jonathan Davies, forcing Hook, set to win his 50th cap, to switch to his third starting position in three games.

Jones returns, therefore, for another chance to silence his critics, and will have Jamie Roberts for company at inside centre in the Stadio Flaminio on Saturday.

And Johnson is adamant that the success of any fly-half depends to large extent on the quality of the man on his shoulder.

"My view is number 12 is the key, and it has been if you look right around the world - think Dan Carter, he's got great help outside him," added Johnson, who worked with Wales as skills coach under Graham Henry and then Steve Hansen.

"Jamie Roberts is a good player and what number does he play, but we don't focus on the number 12 position so can we start focussing on other players as well?"

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