Just three days after slamming Joe Schmidt's squad for the upcoming Rugby World Cup - George Hook is at it again. Taking some shots in his Irish Independent column; Hook has taken aim at several things, not least the chances of success for Ireland and England at the tournament.
Both countries' hopes of winning the tournament are completely dismissed - despite the bookies ranking England as second favourites, and Ireland as fourth favourites.
England's tactics are slammed for being boring and predictable - and the age-old demand of Hook for an out and out seven crops up again. Although when their pool rivals have the likes of Michael Hooper, David Pocock, Sam Warburton and Justin Tipuric it's easy to see his point:
Richie McCaw, the greatest openside ever to play the game, struggled against the Wallaby duo in Sydney last month. What chance for Chris Robshaw and James Haskell when faced with the same pair at Twickenham?
It's not only Ireland's tactics that are under scrutiny - but also individual squad members are singled out. Ireland are "overly reliant on a limited game-plan that was badly exposed by Warren Gatland". Which does appear harsh. George is definitely a fan of the game for the last number of years - but there has been no time in any World Cup warm up game in any year where teams decide to reveal there hand. There can be no doubt that Schmidt and Ireland are holding back some ideas and patterns in an attempt to spring them on unsuspecting opponents when the real deal happens.
Darren Cave's ability is questioned. The Ulsterman's form last season was brilliant, but despite this Hook is questioning why he is deemed good enough all of a sudden.
The selection of Darren Cave as a back-up centre suggests Schmidt has little faith in Luke Fitzgerald and Keith Earls as viable midfield options. Cave has been floating around in the ether of international rugby for the last few years. Now, all of a sudden, he is good enough to play in the World Cup? What has changed?
I refuse to believe that Cave has improved to such a degree as to warrant serious consideration.
Perhaps it's because off the back of his best ever season, the 28-year-old is entering the peak of his career, and is benefitting from an exposed time with Schmidt as his coach. Hook even admitted that he was impressed with Cave's performance against Wales:
Certainly his performance against Wales in Cardiff last month was significantly better than anything we had seen previously in an Ireland jersey.
Hook has some more reasonable grievances with the logic behind selected only two looseheads, one of which hasn't recovered sufficiently enough to play this weekend.
The man is either fit to play, or he isn't. If he is fit, he must get game time under his belt. And if he isn't, what is he doing in the World Cup squad in the first place?
Schmidt has selected only two loosehead props for the tournament. That one of them hasn't played a minute of rugby in months is simply unfathomable.
It'll be strange watching the World Cup without hearing his analysis.
See Also: George Hook Slates Joe Schmidt's World Cup Squad And Fears The Worst For Ireland
See Also: Tony Ward Doesn't Think Much Of One Of Joe Schmidt's Big World Cup Calls
See Also: Jared Payne Responds To George Hook's 'Second Rate Foreign Player' Jibe
Picture credit: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
