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Wales name Hook at flyhalf

Cardiff - James Hook was selected ahead of Stephen Jones at flyhalf on Tuesday for Wales' Six Nations match against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

Hook shrugged off a minor calf problem to reclaim the No. 10 jersey after playing at center in Wales' 24-16 win over Italy, as injury cover for Jonathan Davies.

The Scarlets center recovered from a hamstring injury to be recalled to the team, meaning Hook reverted to flyhalf and Jones was relegated to the replacements.

Leigh Halfpenny came in on the right wing for Morgan Stoddart, who has been struggling with a shoulder problem and dropped to the bench, in the other change made by the Welsh.

Captain Matthew Rees (hamstring) and No. 8 Ryan Jones (calf) proved their fitness to make the starting lineup for Wales, which was still in the running for the title after winning its last two matches.

The Red Dragons are level on four points with both Ireland and France, with unbeaten England topping the table with six points.

The Perpignan-bound Hook ousted Jones from the flyhalf spot for Wales' second game, a 24-6 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, and impressed in the role by setting up the first of Shane Williams' two tries and kicking 14 points.

Hook was seen as the more creative option and will look to fire a talented backline that has struggled to impose any real fluency so far in this competition.

Scrumhalf Dwayne Peel is named on the bench in place of Tavis Knoyle while two of three back-row forwards - Rob McCusker, Andy Powell and Jonathan Thomas - will be confirmed among the replacements when the squad is finalized on Thursday.

Thomas has been nursing a dead leg and is a doubt.

Wales: Lee Byrne, Leigh Halfpenny, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies, Shane Williams, James Hook, Mike Phillips; Paul James, Matthew Rees (captain), Craig Mitchell, Bradley Davies, Alun-Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones.

Replacements: Richard Hibbard, John Yapp, Dwayne Peel, Stephen Jones, Morgan Stoddart, plus two from Rob McCusker, Andy Powell, Jonathan Thomas.



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