Hook and Phillips will bounce back - Connor

Feb 14 2008 by Tim Jenkins, Western Mail

JAMES HOOK and Mike Phillips will have no problems in brushing off the disappointment of being left out of the Wales team to face Italy.

That’s the view of regional team-mate Shaun Connor, who takes over the outside-half berth for the West Wales club in Hook’s absence this weekend.

Connor has seen Hook’s all-round game develop spectacularly at the Ospreys and the former Neath and Bridgend man is sure the 22-year-old will not be deterred by the latest setback.

Panteg-born Connor said the decision of the Wales management team is no more than an experiment with different personnel rather than a criticism of the duo’s performances in the opening two fixtures of the Six Nations.

“If they had played badly. fair enough, people could think they’ve been dropped for their performance, but everyone has done well,” said Connor.

“Stephen Jones and Dwayne Peel did well when they came on against Scotland, but Mike Phillips and Hook were awesome in the game before at Twickenham so it’s wrong to look at it as being dropped.”

Earlier this week Wales legend David Watkins expressed his fears over Warren Gatland’s predicted axing of starlet Hook, saying it could knock the outside-half’s confidence. He urged Gatland to give Hook a run of games at No 10, something he never had under former coach Gareth Jenkins, and instead deploy Stephen Jones as a reserve from the bench.

The only question marks over Hook’s display against the Scots were over the amount of possession he kicked away out of hand, although Watkins said that should not be held against him.

But Connor said that, given the attributes he has witnessed first-hand of Hook and Phillips, he is confident that starting on the bench against Italy will have no long-term effect.

He said, “I don’t think it will affect their confidence because they are both very strong characters. Obviously, Warren Gatland has got his reasons, but I wouldn’t look at it as being dropped it’s just more of a selection change.

“I think he just wants to have a look at a number of different combinations and see how things work from there.”

While Gatland seems to be leaning more towards half-back pairs at the moment, the Ospreys Phillips and Hook or the Scarlets Peel and Jones, Connor said all the players involved would have no problem if the head coach was to mix it up a bit.

All four have played with each other during their Wales careers and, as Gatland places an emphasis on the need for a strong squad rather than just a potent first XV, it will only be a matter of time before the different pairings are used.

“Of course it is nice to have a consistent partnership, but it doesn’t take long to build an understanding with a different player,” explained outside-half Connor.

“Nine and 10’s jobs are pretty much the same, it’s just getting used to each other’s style of play, but, with top-drawer players, that doesn’t take long.”

Connor highlighted the success of the regional set-up in helping to produce players of Hook’s quality. He will be one of the more experienced team members when the Ospreys take on Connacht in the Magners League this week, but said it will be an excellent opportunity for youngsters to take the first steps towards following in people like Hook’s shoes.

He said, “Obviously, lots of our boys and the young players from the other Welsh regions will have watched the games Wales have been playing in and the young lads especially will want a taste of it.

“The players coming through have so much confidence, they are not inhibited at all. They are happy to try things and, if they don’t come off, they don’t get fazed by it. They can’t wait to get out on the field and put a performance in.

“There are going to be a few of the young lads coming through here who seemed made to go all the way. The academy system is working and bringing all these lads through and if they don’t make it now they never will.”