James Hook replaces the injured Rhys Priestland in the Wales starting XV in their only change for Saturday’s Rugby World Cup semi-final against France.
Priestland has failed to recover from a shoulder injury, handing Hook, who has only played a few minutes at number 10 during the World Cup campaign, a chance at fly-half. Stephen Jones will take Hook’s place on the bench for the game, which Wales are now 4/5 with bookmaker to win.
“Time was against Rhys, but we are happy that we have the talent and ability elsewhere in the squad to cover him,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
“Rhys has done everything we have asked of him and more during this World Cup, but, when we have players of the calibre and experience of James Hook and Stephen Jones coming into the squad and starting line-up, there is no sense that Rhys’ absence leaves us any weaker.”
Luke Charteris, Jamie Roberts, George North and Sam Warburton are all fit for Saturday after missing a couple of training sessions with various problems.
