Hook: impressive display
Wales head coach Warren Gatland has urged James Hook to get more vocal if he is to become one of the best fly-halves in the world.
The Ospreys back played a starring role in Wales' 26-19 win at Twickenham on Saturday, outshining World Cup winner Jonny Wilkinson and kicking six goals from six attempts.
According to Gatland, all he lacks is a vocal presence on the field.
"He is a player with an enormous amount of potential and skill," said Gatland.
"The fact he kicked his goals was as important as anything.
"If Wales had kicked their goals against Fiji at the World Cup they would have made the quarter-finals.
"I thought the skill he showed to create the try for Lee Byrne - the footwork, the slight of hand - was quite sensational.
But with the praise comes some criticism - Gatland and assistant Sean Edwards are determined to instil a winning culture in the Welsh camp.
"You can't just say to the players: 'Fantastic, well done, pat on the back and now let's train'. You need to improve them from week to week," Gatland added. "The message at this level is: 'You have to be accurate'.
"Hook kicked one out on the full, he had a cross kick that put us under all sorts of pressure. Unless we criticise and point out faults, how do you get better?"
Hook had no problem accepting the pointers from Gatland. He already knew Wales' first-half performance at Twickenham was not something to be proud of.
"A lot of the criticism was justified because we didn't play well in the first half, we made a lot of errors, gave away a lot of silly penalties and let England into the game," said Hook.
"The boys know we made a lot of mistakes and were quite lucky to win that game. It will not do us any harm, a little bit of criticism. But we go forward with a lot of confidence.
"In the second half we did what we do best, which is keep the ball in hand, run and use our backs outside. England couldn't cope with it. We only had two opportunities and we took them."
Wales bid to take another step towards a Triple Crown on Saturday when Scotland visit the Millennium Stadium.

England 9-18 Australia - Highlights
Harlequins 15-15 Llanelli - Davies
Harlequins 15-15 Llanelli - Robshaw
Harlequins 15-15 Llanelli - Owens
England 9-18 Australia - Wilkinson & Moody
England 9-18 Australia - Johnson
England 9-18 Australia - Giteau
England 9-18 Australia - Genia & Ashley-Cooper
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Guinness Premiership | |
| Friday 20th November | |
| Guinness Premiership | |
| 19:45 | Gloucester vs Leicester |
| 20:00 | Worcester vs Bath |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| 13:00 | Northampton vs Harlequins |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Newcastle |
| 15:00 | Saracens vs Wasps |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Sale |
| Friday 27th November | |
| 19:45 | Sale vs Wasps |
| 20:00 | Newcastle vs Northampton |
| 20:00 | Worcester vs Saracens |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| 15:00 | Harlequins vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Worcester vs Saracens |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Leeds Carnegie |
| 17:35 | Bath vs London Irish |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Worcester |
| 15:00 | Northampton vs Bath |
| 15:00 | Gloucester vs Newcastle |
| 17:35 | Saracens vs Sale |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| 15:00 | Wasps vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Leeds Carnegie vs Harlequins |
| Saturday 26th December | |
| 14:15 | Bath vs Gloucester |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Sale |
| 15:00 | Worcester vs Northampton |
| Sunday 27th December | |
| 15:00 | London Irish vs Saracens |
| 15:00 | Newcastle vs Leeds Carnegie |
| 16:00 | Harlequins vs Wasps |
| Result |
|---|
| Guinness Premiership |
| Sunday 1st November |
| Guinness Premiership |
| Newcastle 14 - 3 Worcester |
| Wasps 9 - 15 Leeds Carnegie |
| Saturday 31st October |
| Leicester 29 - 15 Northampton |
| Harlequins 9 - 9 London Irish |
| Bath 11 - 12 Saracens |
| Friday 30th October |
| Sale 28 - 23 Gloucester |
| Sunday 25th October |
| Saracens 21 - 15 Leeds Carnegie |
| Saturday 24th October |
| Gloucester 6 - 35 Wasps |
| London Irish 18 - 12 Leicester |
| Northampton 21 - 16 Sale |
| Worcester 22 - 26 Harlequins |
| Bath 16 - 27 Newcastle |
| Sunday 4th October |
| Leeds Carnegie 10 - 26 Gloucester |
| Wasps 20 - 15 Northampton |
| Newcastle 15 - 22 Saracens |
| Saturday 3rd October |
| Harlequins 13 - 11 Bath |
| Leicester 19 - 14 Worcester |
| Friday 2nd October |
| Sale 8 - 11 London Irish |
| Sunday 27th September |
| Saracens 19 - 16 Gloucester |
| London Irish 28 - 16 Wasps |
| Saturday 26th September |
| Bath 20 - 20 Leicester |
| Worcester 24 - 18 Sale |
| Northampton 30 - 10 Leeds Carnegie |
| Friday 25th September |
| Newcastle 17 - 17 Harlequins |
| Sunday 20th September |
| Wasps 23 - 3 Worcester |
Jonny Wilkinson told The Rugby Club he hopes to play with new-found freedom against Australia on Saturday.
Aussie Matt Giteau tells Rugby Club that he is keen to avoid a repeat of his first Twickenham outing.
Back Nikolai Valuev, Didier Drogba and Jonny Wilkinson this weekend, says Ed Chamberlin.
Cardiff Blues won their LV= Cup clash against Gloucester thanks to a last-gasp penalty from Ceri Sweeney at Kingsholm.
Dan Carter has been cited for a dangerous tackle on Martin Roberts during New Zealand's 19-12 win over Wales.
Harlequins and Scarlets shared the spoils following a tremendous battle in their LV= clash at the Twickenham Stoop.
Wasps withstood some late pressure to earn a hard-fought 24-20 LV= Cup triumph over London Irish.
Joe Ford scored 18 points to help Leeds record a 28-17 triumph in their LV= Cup clash with Leicester at Headingley.