Hook to retire |
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dr_martinov
Veteran Joined: 06 August 2005 Location: Tycoch Status: Offline Points: 13286 |
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Posted: 13 January 2020 at 6:48pm |
I think James Hook deserves a thread to himself. Hook is to retire at the end of this season, The 34-year-old played 81 times for Wales and toured with the 2009 British and Irish Lions in South Africa.
Hook was a key player in the Wales squad for close to a decade for me, even if he went in and out of contention and always had that enigmatic "utility back" label or question of where to play him best. Yes, in part this was because he couldn't hold down the no. 10 jersey at club or country but this also should be great credit to his versatility and all round rugby skills. He was seen as the anti-Stevo by many and so perhaps hyped into something he wasn't - even if he could have been - but that shouldn't detract from what he was, which was a bloody good player. Didn't quite fit the Gatland mould and so maybe we'll always wonder but I for one think he's had a fantastic career and he always gave his best with some moments of magic. I also thank him for that performance when he took England apart.
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Dic Penderyn
Veteran Joined: 03 November 2019 Location: Llanelli Status: Offline Points: 1977 |
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A great player whose talent was matched only by his modesty..
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GPR - Rochester
Veteran Joined: 01 December 2014 Location: Rhydcymerau Status: Offline Points: 18784 |
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Too good a rugby player for Gatland.
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miaow
Senior Member Joined: 20 December 2019 Status: Offline Points: 523 |
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Edited by miaow - 14 January 2020 at 4:07pm |
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miaow
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dr_martinov
Veteran Joined: 06 August 2005 Location: Tycoch Status: Offline Points: 13286 |
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Fair comments. I also remember thinking the 13 worked but this was only 1 or 2 games and there were always questions defensively. I think Hook's lateral movement was too much an issue in the centre, maybe less apparent at 13 but still there. He did play 12 for the Ospreys loads next to Biggar but as you say his style was maybe 5/10 years too late and he got right in the peak crash ball centre, pods of forwards bosh running stuff, which didn't really fit his style. While he may have got exposed at 15 he was also useful for the arial ping pong back in the day before modern up and unders. Still though, really high all-round skill set and think he's had a great career. I can see him being skills/passing coach somewhere and the author plan is certainly an interesting one! He comes across as a genuinely nice down to earth guy as well.
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