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Hook scan keeps Welsh nerves a-jangling

Saturday 15th November 2008

James Hook: Hopeful

Wales are hopeful James Hook will not become the latest injury absentee of their November Test series.

The Ospreys fly-half is set to undergo a scan after limping off with knee tendon trouble during the unimpressive 34-13 victory over Canada.

Hook lasted just 18 minutes of an error-strewn Millennium Stadium encounter, making his premature exit just eight days before the reigning Six Nations champions host New Zealand.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has already lost centre Gavin Henson, prop Duncan Jones and probably hooker Huw Bennett from the remaining November clashes with the All Blacks and Australia.

If fit, Hook could feature in the starting line-up next weekend when Wales target a first win against New Zealand since 1953.

"He took a bit of a knock on the knee," said Gatland.

"He will have a scan, but he is hoping he will be okay."

Hook was replaced by his Ospreys colleague Dan Biggar, who made a Test debut along with Scarlets scrum-half Martin Roberts and Sale Sharks prop Eifion Lewis-Roberts, but 19-year-old Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny was Wales' most impressive performer.

Halfpenny, despite pressure from the vastly more experienced Mark Jones, will surely keep his place next Saturday after scoring two of Wales' five tries.

Gatland added: "It was great to see Leigh score a couple of tries - he looked dangerous."

Canada gave Wales some testing times, despite lying eight places below them in the International Rugby Board world rankings and suffering a 55-0 defeat against Ireland just six days previously.

"I think we put some pride back into the Canada jersey," said Canucks coach Kieran Crowley.

"I was very pleased and impressed with the heart we showed.

"When you look at the game, we conceded two penalty tries, a try right on half-time and another right on full-time, so you take those last two out of it and I thought our defence was outstanding."