For the next 2 hours, I am on Hook watch...

IMHO Hook as it stands isn't on the plane in the summer, he hasn't had any game time in the 6N and isn't in view easily in France, however tonight there is no other contenders to distract Gatland taking a long hard look at 1 man (unless I'm mistaken)

The focus tonight will be solely on Hook, there must be a seat or 2 undecided and a utility back like Hook is always going to beg the question even when not playing that well, but Hook must have a blinder tonight to book his seat, an absolute stormer!!!

He is in a difficult position, team tactics and team performance must be key, but at the same time he'll want to highlight hois skillset...

Come on the Hooky, lets see what you got!!

First contribution...

Check to opposding side of pitch and aimless kick

Face doesn't fit !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Decent cover tackle,

Snagged 10 yards out, big overlap on the left but no room.

So -1 for the kick

+ 1 cover tackle

0 for getting snagged

0 for not taking conv

Pick up in own 22, steps 2 but then chips ala ROG in SA = 0

I think he's on standby at best - no H-cup and no real 6N = very little chance, I think (especially since he hasn't been on fire in the int scene for a while). Hell of a player though - hope he gets a chance for a renaissance for Wales some time!

Good carry and good position for offload, but loses ball on floor = 0

MarcusHalberstram wrote:I think he's on standby at best - no H-cup and no real 6N = very little chance, I think (especially since he hasn't been on fire in the int scene for a while). Hell of a player though - hope he gets a chance for a renaissance for Wales some time!

agreed

+1 for the try -1 for the kiss he just planted on his team mate :p

Well taken try.

Very good try, 5 metre channel, 5 yards out, one on one, shimmy and into the corner = +1

2 kicks 2 misses, but I did say tonight isn't about goal kicking.

looked over to me though

thebluesmancometh wrote:2 kicks 2 misses, but I did say tonight isn't about goal kicking.

looked over to me though

looked over to me too.

ref asked the assistant if tmo was needed...

If anything though its hooks fault for always hitting them so high!!!

It did look over. I'd have tried getting the ref to tmo that. Touchjudges must have been confident though.

Try was very good. His flat pass leading up to the try was nice too.

very poor tech at that ruck = -1

thebluesmancometh wrote:ref asked the assistant if tmo was needed...

If anything though its hooks fault for always hitting them so high!!!

Should've learned from South Africa in the WC

Up and under too low and long = -1

Even that one was higher than the post top!!!

Another bomb too long = -1

Guess he can't alter his technique - he'd be shafted at the RDS - their posts are only about 3m high, if memory serves!

Good 22 cover = +1

you counting all these up blue? lol

First half analysis...

OK so far, distribution good first 25, some good reactions and defencively sound (although not very tested so far). 2 or 3 carries have been good, if had any support an easy linebreak wouldve occured, but badly let down by his kicking game, bombs are too long and not high enough, and 2 missed at goal...

In comparison the opposing 10 (who is he) is having a poor running and distribution game but his kicking is fantastic, to touch he has far more distance than Hook, better at goal, out of 22 and bombs stayed in air forever and were contested by an average chase.

If I was Gatland and I was 50/50 going into this game abou Hook, I would definately be 50/50 now, maybe against Hook if considered a 10 option.

nathan wrote:you counting all these up blue? lol

It's my analysis head on mate, I havn't got the equipment to really do it so I am going to use my old notational thing!!

Anything between -5 to +5 is a decent game, hard to judge without context, anything below -5 is not good, and anything above +5 is good (simplified for use)

Kick clear leads to Stade try, but it was passed back in and he couldn't go to touch = 0

hmmmmmm, very strange, one angle looked good, other didnt! lol

TMO

Come on James, how many times do you have to make life hard?

That looked well wide to me?!?!

Am I drunk??? When it looks in it's wide and when it looks wide it's in!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:TMO

Come on James, how many times do you have to make life hard?

That looked well wide to me?!?!

Am I drunk??? When it looks in it's wide and when it looks wide it's in!!

i did wonder if i were drunk too, very strange!

naughty little stamp there.

Misses another, but the guy holding it ballsed up, let go early and the ball moved!!!!

Dummy, step and spin, gets scragged but crowd goes wild and get boosted = +1

TMO again??? James mun!!!

From one angle that looks wide the other it looks over. The TJ on that near post should just grow a set of balls and make the call. He is in absolutely the best position to see. 2D TV images are misleading

Beauty of a chip = +1

i'm glad the ref didn't come back to that. he made a meal out of it.

nathan wrote:i'm glad the ref didn't come back to that. he made a meal out of it.

Shouldve been carded too IMHO!!

Nice defencive work = +1

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:i'm glad the ref didn't come back to that. he made a meal out of it.

Shouldve been carded too IMHO!!

Nice defencive work = +1

nah he ran him into him looking for it. May of put a shoulder in but he didnt move sideways at all.

nathan wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:i'm glad the ref didn't come back to that. he made a meal out of it.

Shouldve been carded too IMHO!!

Nice defencive work = +1

nah he ran him into him looking for it. May of put a shoulder in but he didnt move sideways at all.

I meant the 12, not the so called blocker!! Look at his reaction as he runs into the defender... awfull!!!

lol, what is going on with kicks at goals in this match!

I am lost for words, those 2 kicks deserve to win this!!!

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:i'm glad the ref didn't come back to that. he made a meal out of it.

Shouldve been carded too IMHO!!

Nice defencive work = +1

nah he ran him into him looking for it. May of put a shoulder in but he didnt move sideways at all.

I meant the 12, not the so called blocker!! Look at his reaction as he runs into the defender... awfull!!!

ah thought you meant the other way round!

How did Perpignan contrive to lose that game?

Tim Stimpson-tastic!
Hope Stade go on to win it as I reckon they were robbed in Cardiff 2 years ago.

Full time analysis...

Very good start, good platform and distribution, Perp looked very threatening, as did Hook, took his try very well, and looked solid ball in hand...

Second half was a different ball game, saw very little attacking ball, and the ball he did see was defencive, his kicking out of hand was poor, and goal kicking probably lost the game for Perp!!

All in all, he has his strengths, and his weaknesses, if Gatland is 50/50 and looking to make his mind up on this performance it's quite simple...

If Gats is looking for a 10 cover option he's not going!!!

If Gats is looking for a utility back, he stands a chance!!

I rated his performance as +1, decent enough, but enough to highlight himself as a tourist? No has to be my answer, and that hurts as I really like the guy.

The only saving factor he can take from tonight is that he was the total team player, it would've been easy for Hook to keep trying to run the ball out, throw the flashy pass or flick it out the back door, he couldve focused on himself, but instead played the safer options, kept the ball in hand when the offload wasn't on, kicked deep when in a defencive position, and didn't force the pass/run, he was impressive by his lack of selfichness.

But ultimately, it's on Gats, but I think this performance hasn't helped or hindered him.

i have to admit and some of you guys may disagree but i think "The Brand" is coming across pretty well in this analysis.

nathan wrote:i have to admit and some of you guys may disagree but i think "The Brand" is coming across pretty well in this analysis.

???

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:i have to admit and some of you guys may disagree but i think "The Brand" is coming across pretty well in this analysis.

???

Haskell.

Hooks interview looks like he knows he's not going!!

nathan wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:

nathan wrote:i have to admit and some of you guys may disagree but i think "The Brand" is coming across pretty well in this analysis.

???

Haskell.

I shouldve known!!!!

Ive never disliked him like some do TBH, Ive met him, and seen tons of his promo/conditioning stuff and he always just struck me as a supremley confident individual, very restrictive and not as charismatic as usual.