James Hook - Please Don’t Mess Him About

James Hook – Please Don’t Mess Him About

No Comment

A couple of seasons ago, when James Hook first really burst onto the Welsh rugby scene with that massively impressive display vs Australia, every one and his dog were comparing him to Barry John, saying he was the next big thing.

Ospreys fans were aghast that, for some reason, Lyn Jones kept picking what was to be the next big Welsh 10 at the inside center position, whilst choosing Gavin Henson at outside half. It made no sense.

Fast forward a couple of years and it seems James Hook is again being messed around position wise. On the summer tour to South Africa last year he played full back, and last week he was selected at 13, and Sean Holley has suggested he sees at least a bit of a future for him there.

James Hook’s Progress

To be fair James Hook hasn’t progressed as much as many of us had hoped. He is a huge talent at 10 and can turn things around but he has struggled to control games like you would hope an outside half would. He’s good, just not as good as we hoped.

But has anyone noticed something important?* He’s still young. Of course he hasn’t reached full maturity for controlling games. Maybe he hasn’t brought his game on enough, but frankly I don’t think that the coaching Sean Holley has given the backs has been up to scratch, the ospreys have looked clueless there all season – despite having one of the best club/regional backlines around. james-hook-outside-half

James Hook has all the talent in the world and I don’t doubt he has the ability in him to start taking games by the scruff of the neck. To start pining the corners and pulling the strings. With Scott Johnson taking charge down at the Liberty Stadium Hook has the chance to work with an expert backs coach day in day out.

James Hook At Outside Center

I’ll be fair, I can see the logic. Hook could well be a great 13. He has worked hard in the gym and has become a very strong player, he is a devastating broken field runner – which is a useful attribute for any outside centre, and he can pass well. It takes the pressure off him, pressure he is obviously feeling at outside half.

But it seems to me that simply shunting him along the backline ignores the talent that we all know he has at 10. He can play the corners, he can run a game and he can develop as a player. Hell it’s not like he is bad now, he is still very good – and he can reach world class status with the right coaching.

So an appeal to coaches. Please lets not carry on messing Hook around. Obviously we haven’t learnt our lesson from Henson well enough. Let us choose one position for Hook and stick with it.

In my opinion that position is 10.

Did you know you could get a FREE Welsh Rugby Blog newsletter delivered straight to your inbox? Simply enter your details here.

You can also follow us on Twitter and on Facebook now. Isn't technology wonderful!