James Hook will play at fly-half for Wales against France on Saturday after Rhys Priestland failed to recover from a shoulder injury.
Priestland injured his left shoulder near the end of Wales crushing defeat of Ireland in Wellington last week and spent the early part of this week in a sling. Coach Warren Gatland had hoped he would be fit for the World Cup semi-final but he has been forced to turn to Hook, with Stephen Jones as back up.
“Time was against Rhys,” said Gatland. “Rhys has done everything we have asked of him, and more, during this World Cup.
“But when we have players of the calibre and experience of James Hook and Stephen Jones coming into the squad and starting line-up, there is no sense that Rhys’ absence leaves us any weaker.”
Hook is the only change to the side that dumped Ireland out and in fairness to Gatland, despite how well Priestland has played, Hook and Jones are not bad back-ups to call on. More worrying for Wales should be the fact that France have beaten them nine out of the last 11 times they have played.
However, Gatland is saying all the right things in the build-up.
“We know that the people in Wales and the fans that have travelled here are excited about reaching the semi-finals of the World Cup, and we are too, but beating France on Saturday must be, and will be, our sole focus.
“The time to reflect and to celebrate will come if we win our next two matches. Until that happens, our focus on the task ahead must be absolute.”
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Shane Williams, 10 James Hook, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Danny Lydiate, 5 Alun Wyn Jones, 4 Luke Charteris, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Paul James, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Ryan Jones, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Scott Williams.
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