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Hook handed Wales fly-half shirt
2011-03-08 17:43:22
Wales have restored James Hook to fly-half for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Ireland in Cardiff.
Centre Jonathan Davies is fit again after the hamstring injury that kept him out of the win in Italy and returns to partner Jamie Roberts in midfield.
That allows Hook to switch from centre to stand-off, Stephen Jones dropping to the bench, while Leigh Halfpenny replaces Morgan Stoddart on the wing.
Scrum-half Dwayne Peel is named on the bench in place of Tavis Knoyle.
Elsewhere among the replacements, Ospreys hooker Richard Hibbard has overcome his shoulder problem and provides front-row cover with Cardiff Blues prop John Yapp.
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//Jonathan Thomas has recovered from a dead leg to take his place on the replacements bench with Rob McCusker being preferred to Andy Powell as back-five cover.
Ospreys scrum-half Mike Phillips and his regional team-mate Ryan Jones will both win their 50th Wales caps.
Jones takes his place at number eight in an unchanged back-row, with Wales coach Warren Gatland keeping faith with the entire pack for the third fixture in a row.
"This is a crucial game for us a win will keep us in the championship mix and take us into that final round with everything still to play for," said Gatland.
"But it is a big game for Ireland too who are in a similar position to us going into this match."