No 10 selection is nightmare, says Jonathan

Mar 3 2008 by Paul Abbandonato, Western Mail

WALES fly-half legend Jonathan Davies believes Warren Gatland faces mission impossible in deciding who to pick at No 10 for this week’s huge Triple Crown showdown with Ireland.

Gatland names his starting XV tomorrow with the issue of Stephen Jones v James Hook dominating the agenda.

Davies has always been a staunch supporter of Jones whenever the debate has raged before, coming down in favour of the experience and know-how of the Scarlets man.

But Davies acknowledges that Hook possesses the X-factor which could hold the key to Welsh success at Croke Park.

He doesn’t envy Gatland his decision, but he also points out it is win-win for Wales, because either man is capable of shining in Dublin.

Hook was inspirational in helping Wales beat England at Twickenham for the first time in 20 years, did well against Scotland at the Millennium Stadium and also played excellent rugby when coming on as a replacement against Italy.

Gatland made a point of talking up Jones’ performance as a second-half replacement against the Scots, while the Scarlets man also featured prominently in the win over the Italians.

Davies said, “If I was picking the team, I would be at a complete loss when it comes to choosing the No 10.

“I’m not one for sitting on the fence, but I must admit that deciding between Stephen Jones and James Hook would be a nightmare.”

Davies said the knowhow Jones brings to the party could be pivotal in the white-hot atmosphere of Croke Park.

But he also accepts Hook offers an extra dimension with his flair and that genius might be just what Wales need to make it four wins out of four.

“I am an admirer of the way that Jones controls a match, and game-management is going to play a crucial part in what is bound to be a monumental clash,” Davies said in his Independent on Sunday column.

“But Hook carries the X-factor, the flair for the unexpected that can sway a game that is as tight and tense as this one promises to be.

“Welsh rugby history is packed with bitter controversies about who should play at outside-half, but there has never been one as closely balanced as this.

“You can’t even separate them on goal-kicking ability because they’ve each been popping them over from everywhere.

“In fact, the Welsh record of 21 kicks out of 21 is one of the most impressive statistics of this championship.”

Davies believes the call is so close, it may come down to who has shone most in training in the past few days.

He continued, “Warren Gatland, who has to make the decision, has at least one advantage. He has been watching them perform in training, and it could well come down to who has been showing up best in the short but intensive sessions he and Shaun Edwards preside over.

“It doesn’t really worry me who gets the vote because they each have so much to offer – and we may well see each of them in action during the game.”

Davies went on, “What has happened to Wales under Gatland’s short regime is definitely an on-going process, and we can confidently expect the improvement to be maintained. I trust that will include the line-out, which is still a Welsh weakness. With Paul O’Connell coming back for Ireland, it is not an area in which Wales want to be too deficient.

“One point I believe will be in Wales’ favour is that the match is being played at Croke Park. Lansdowne Road was an awful place to go to.

“Even when the weather was nice, it always seemed to be windy. The crowd was on top of you and everything about it was intimidating.

“It really was a forbidding fortress for visiting teams.

“Croke Park is a far nicer environment. The crowd are further back and it is nowhere near as claustrophobic.

“It still amounts to home advantage, though, and Ireland will no doubt be favourites because of that.

“But Wales will be up for the battle which it is it is bound to be. It has the ingredients of a classic match.”

Meanwhile, young wonder Hook himself said, “The only thing I know is that I really, really want to play.

“Triple Crown, Grand Slam – the lot is at stake and I’m bursting to get out there at Croke Park after not starting against Italy.

“But, like everyone else, I will just have to wait for Tuesday to see who gets the nod. I honestly haven’t got a clue.

“I just can’t read Warren. But that’s what competition for places is about. There are no comfort zones.”

Hook said Wales had just had the most intensive week he has known in terms of training.

“Anyone wondering if we took our foot off the gas last week with no game this weekend needn’t worry because I can assure you things went up a notch in camp,” said Hook.

“Warren Gatland introduced us to a fitness expert from Warrington, I’m guessing someone Shaun Edwards knows through his rugby league contacts up north.

“It was basically a power endurance session – and the man just beasted us.

“Just writing it down really doesn’t do it justice. But we’re talking about being in the gym doing seven sets of things like shoulder presses, pull-ups and step-ups carrying dumb-bells.

“From there, it was straight into circuit-based exercises; pushing, pulling, tug-of-wars, you name it, it was there and we were doing it.

“I’m happy to announce that there were no drop-outs, but I think it’s fair to say the lot of us were struggling by the end.

“Well, I know I was, anyway!

“There weren’t many of us who had trouble sleeping that night, every single one of us was just shattered.

“Once you’ve gone through it, there’s a huge buzz of satisfaction and you are just so much better for it.”