Welsh legend Terry Holmes wants new half-back pairing for Wales
Former Welsh scrum-half Terry Holmes suggested that Wales’ coach Warren Gatland should start a new half-back pairing of James Hook and Richie Rees.
Holmes believes that the pairing of Hook and Rees would provide more of a threat than that of scrum-half Mike Philips and veteran out-half Stephen Jones.
Philips and Jones played in Wales’ 16-25 defeat to Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday 6 November.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Holmes said, "He's tried Stephen and Mike. Mike doesn't seem to be on best form at the moment and Stephen he's been a magnificent servant, but I just think we need a bit more threat there at 10 and I think James could give us that.”
Holmes thinks that scrum-half Rees is the player on form, having starred for his club side the Cardiff Blue this season.
"I think Richie's in good form at the moment and James Hook does offer you a different proposition. I think he [Gatland] could make those changes. There are three games left [in November], he'll try and get his best combination out for the New Zealand game.”
Holmes feels that the Test against South Africa on Saturday 13 November would be an ideal match to try out Hook and Rees, before they decide on who should take on the number one ranked All Blacks.
Holmes thinks that if Wales had played the talented Hook, they would have been more effective against the Wallabies.
“I think it would be a good time to try a different combination. I think the set-piece went okay. We didn't really threaten them that much. They game's changing at breathtaking speed all the time. You've got to come up with different attacking options and
we just need a bit more creativity there."
Hook has played at out-half for Wales before and his attacking nature and unpredictably is something that Gatland may consider to opt for, rather than Stephen Jones’ more structured and kicking game.
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