By GAVIN CUMMISKEY

Play-making 13 who’s liable to shred midfield cover

WELSH PLAYER WATCH

13: James Hook (Ospreys)

Age: 24

Height: 6ft 0ins/1.83m

Weight: 14st 10lbs/93kgs

International record: 40 caps (214 pts - 7T, 34C, 35PG, 2DG)

The latest in a long line of poor unfortunates christened “the new Barry John” by the rugby obsessed Welsh public/media.

Hook has failed to remove the conservative Stephen Jones from the outhalf berth these past few years and appears to have given up that ghost, with the Ospreys switching him to centre (and occasionally fullback) due to the emergence of Dan Biggar. The Welsh management agreed, using Hook as a play-making 13 on a full-time basis where he is as liable to shred the midfield cover, as he did against England, as he is to fling out a mindless intercept pass, as he did when gifting Alexis Palisson a try against France.

“James Hook is the most talented player I have ever played with . . . Hooky’s just not loud enough to be a 10,” said Tommy Bowe of his Ospreys stablemate.

Worrying feelings as the Welsh roller-coaster arrives

The worrying feeling about the Welsh arrival to Dublin is two-fold. Firstly, Croke Park is not an issue with them as they won here in 2008. Secondly, surely the Welsh have learned from the over elaboration (gifting France two tries) and ill-discipline (blatant foot tripping versus England) of their performances to date, not to mention the great escape against Scotland.

Judging from Warren Gatland’s comments yesterday they have.

“We need to make sure, going forward, that we are not so forceful in terms of the first half and not be afraid to go in at half-time at three-all or 6-3 or 9-3 down and be confident that fitness-wise and the game plan and the opportunities as teams tire will come in the second half.

“We just need to make sure that we don’t put ourselves under pressure. I think we would have won against England and France if those games had been closer at half-time. We need to learn from those experiences.”

Dallaglio exacts his revenge

Lawrence Dallaglio free-wheeled into Dublin last weekend, literally, as part of the “Cycle Slam” that sees him visiting all six national stadiums during Europe’s premier rugby tournament. This is being done alongside several celebrities and a 250-strong peloton.

It means 24 days in the saddle, covering 2,800km and raising €736,000 for Sport Relief and the Dallaglio Foundation.

He pocketed €500 in Krystle nightclub last Saturday night after two brave revellers from Terenure offered to donate the money on the condition they got to dump the English World Cup-winning number eight.

Dallaglio took it in good spirits and all three retreated to the bar, but moments later one of the poor lad’s top half was separated from his bottom as the Wasps legend exacted some revenge. Ouch.

Murphy offered three-year deal by Leicester Tigers

Geordan Murphy revealed yesterday he is poised to see out the remainder of his professional career at the Leicester Tigers where he has been since joining them as a 19 year old and recently replaced Martin Corry as club captain.

“I’ve been offered a three-year deal after this year in Leicester. I am talking about that with them at the moment.

“They want me to keep going for a few more years but only time will tell.”

It helps that, as Murphy freely admitted, he hasn’t exactly put his body needlessly on the line over a highly respectable career.

“I’m 31 now . . . I’ve never been a big bosh monster. I don’t run into people.

“I don’t make any massive hits. I just try and get by with what I have been given.”

That would be natural evasiveness.

Murphy was also adamant, despite the rapid return of Rob Kearney from injury, that he wants to keep his international innings ticking over at least until the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.