Wales must nullify the “world class” talents of Jonny May if they are to beat England in Cardiff tonight, according to the winger’s Gloucester team-mate James Hook.
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Much has been made of the injuries suffered by Staurt Lancaster’s squad in the build-up to the Millennium Stadium clash, but the Red Rose coach has been able to pick his preferred back three.
May, who will line-up on the opposite wing to Anthony Watson with Mike Brown at full-back, has been in fine form of late and scored three tries in four autumn Test appearances.
His Kingsholm colleague Hook – deemed surplus to requirements for the Six Nations by Wales – has witnessed the 24-year-old’s abilities first-hand this season, and is clearly a fan.
“Jonny is a different breed,” he told Sport360. “I was watching some of the tries that he’s scored over the last couple of years and he’s just a special, special player.
“You give him the ball and he can do things that no other wing would even dream of doing. I’m just glad he’s here in Gloucester and we’ve got a world-class player.”
Asked if he thought May could prove a match-winner for England, Hook added: “He’s such a talent, and the try he scored against New Zealand showed everyone what he’s about but he’s been scoring those tries for Gloucester year-in, year-out.
“I’m just glad he’s taken that step onto the international stage now and England are lucky to have him.”
Hook played full-back the previous time these two fierce rivals met on a Friday night in Cardiff, four years ago, and trotted on for the final five minutes of Wales’ 30-3 victory at the Millennium Stadium in 2013.
He knows, therefore, how important tonight’s game could be prove not only in the context of the Six Nations, but in how they approach their World Cup meeting in September.
“Wales-England are always huge games but Friday in night in Cardiff is a pretty special occasion,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to play a few years back in a Friday night Six Nations game and it was just electric and the boys will need no motivation going into the game.
And Hook believes that November’s defeat of South Africa in the Welsh capital could help Warren Gatland’s men take the next step.
QUOTE: Jonny May cannot wait for #RBS6Nations opener in Cardiff for @EnglandRugby #carrythemhome pic.twitter.com/Kg1UEoL33b
— Gloucester Rugby (@gloucesterrugby) February 5, 2015
“That South Africa result was huge for Wales to get through that mental block of beating a southern hemisphere team,” he said.
“I think the Six Nations will be a big stepping stone going forward to the World Cup, I think Gatland said it’s all about the World Cup, so everything before it is just preparation for that.
“Obviously they will be going into the Six Nations taking it seriously, especially England first up on Friday night it will be a huge game. But Wales are a quality team, they have shown over the years how good they are, so hopefully they’ll pull through.”
Hook will be 30 by the time the World Cup comes around, and while he hopes to have done enough to earn a recall by then, he admits his international career has not quite lived up to his expectations.
Despite making his debut two weeks before his 21st birthday, and amassing 77 caps, the fly-half has been unable to nail down a consistent place in the team.
Hook has not been helped by his versatility, though, being asked to fill in at full-back, centre and even on the wing when injuries to others have demanded it.
“It’s quite strange because I’ve played in four different positions right across the backline, so it’s not like I’ve been stuck in one position for the full 77 caps,” he revealed.
“Obviously if you’d have told me I’d have 77 caps before I started then I’d have been over the moon and thrilled to bits. But, it is a little bit disappointing that I haven’t built on those caps.”
