I’m sorry for Mike, but Justin top class, says Hook

Apr 4 2008 by Our Correspondent, Western Mail

JAMES HOOK last night added his sympathy to the plight of Mike Phillips, but admitted the Ospreys haven’t got a bad replacement for Sunday’s massive Heineken Cup quarter-final with Saracens.

Six Nations hero Phillips, below, entered hospital yesterday for surgery to repair the seriously damaged knee ligaments he suffered in the ambitious Welsh region’s 30-3 EDF Energy Cup semi-final grilling of Sarries 13 days ago.

The terrible injury has put the feisty scrum-half out of the Ospreys’ bid for European and Anglo-Welsh silverware, Wales’ two-Test summer tour of world champions South Africa and, probably, next autumn’s big international clashes in Cardiff with the Springboks, New Zealand and Australia.

It means New Zealand great Justin Marshall is assured of wearing the No 9 jersey when the big-spenders head to Vicarage Road, Watford.

“Mike is a huge loss, but, obviously, we have got Justin, who is a world-class player, to come in,” pointed out Hook.

“Mike was playing the best rugby of his life and his injury could not have come at a worse time with the Heineken quarters, the final of the EDF and Wales’ tour of South Africa coming up.

“I am gutted for him. But, whether it’s Mike or Justin inside me at scrum-half, I am comfortable.”

Who would have been partnering Hook at Saracens was up for discussion before Phillips’ unfortunate blow. Marshall, the All Blacks most-capped scrum-half with 81 caps spread over 11 years, started the last five of the Ospreys’ six group matches in the Heineken Cup.

Phillips was in for the opener – the defeat at Glou-cester – but it was the experienced former Crusaders’ Super 12 star who took over for the rest.

But the scintillating displays of Phillips during the Six Nations resulted in intense debate in the Ospreys camp.

Phillips started that fateful EDF clash with Saracens and was making a genuine case to be included from the off in their No 1 goal of the season – the Heineken Cup.

However, his injury opened the door for former New Zealand skipper Marshall to come bouncing in.

So, how would Hook describe them?

“Mike is a bit more aggressive and Justin is competitive and really controlled,” he replied.

“I don’t think there is much to choose between the pair of them because they both offer different things. Ospreys are lucky to have them both here.”

It’s not just on Phillips’ fellow Grand Slammer Hook’s inside that the big spenders are blessed with talent. For lining up outside Wales’ orchestrator at centre is a certain Gavin Henson, whose gritty, efficient and committed performances during the charge to the Six Nations were noted by shrewd rugby judges.

Will Greenwood, a World Cup winner with England five years ago, played alongside Henson on the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand and always knew there was a world-class talent desperate to be let loose.

“I have always, always said he is a top-class player. Some people you can just tell have an innate ability to turn a game, go up a level and be world class,” said the astute analyst.

“Whatever issues there were off the field, he no longer has. He has answered all the questions thrown at him this year.

“He has turned his defence into a huge strength, he has simplified his game. He runs hard, he runs straight and, when the opportunity comes to put the ball through hands, he does.

“He has increased his work rate, he gets himself muddy and gets in amongst it.

“He is enjoying the responsibility of being defensive leader.

“Gavin is a quiet guy. He is not someone who wants the microphone, to shout and scream and dance.

“He just gets on with things on the rugby field.

“You have to allow him to do it his way and that is what the current Wales management team have done. And that is what they allow him to do at the Ospreys.”

Hook admitted it was a joy and comfort to have his friend lining up alongside him as they attempt to repeat their recent drubbing of Saracens.

“It’s brilliant having Gav outside me. He is a big lump. You have just got to put the ball in front of him and he will either run over people or around them.

“Gav is a really talented footballer. He’s a great distributor. It’s great to have a player like Justin on my inside and another in Gav outside me. Even just training with boys of their ability day in, day out is great.”

Hook expressed the new air of confidence that Wales’ Grand Slam – Ospreys dominated coach Warren Gatland’s side – appears to have instilled at the Liberty Stadium.

It wasn’t always like that because, despite the obvious talent of their star-studded squad, they used to portray themselves as underdogs. Not any more. As Hook pointed out, statistically they have to be odds-on to beat Saracens.

These are the facts: 11 of the Wales side that clinched the Six Nations Grand Slam by beating France on March 15 came from the Ospreys.

Add Scotland winger Nikki Walker, assuming he recovers from an ankle injury to face the Guinness Premiership outfit, Marshall, and All Blacks back rowers Marty Holah and Filo Tiatia to the mix, and the Ospreys are a potent cocktail, perhaps more so than Wales.

“You can see why we are favourites because of the success of the Grand Slam and the number of Ospreys in it,” said Hook.

But, he stressed, there wasn’t any room for complacency against Saracens, saying, “This is going to be a different game. It would be stupid to look any further ahead than it.

“They created chances against us in the first half of the EDF at the Millennium Stadium. I found it a really tough game.

“We were clinical and that’s what we have got to be again on Sunday. It’s going to be tough, but, hopefully, we will be best on the day.”