Player Profile: James Hook
Position: Fly-half / Inside centre
Height: 1.83 m (6? 0”)
Weight: 91 kg (14 st 5 lb)
Date of Birth: 27th June 1985
Birthplace: Port Talbot, Wales
James Hook is currently the great young hope of Welsh rugby, and is widely regarded as one of the best rugby talents in the world. He has starred for Wales at inside centre alongside captain Stephen Jones, but plays at fly-half for his club, The Ospreys.
In fact, many Wales supporters have longed to see Jones replaced by Hook in the number 10 jersey because he offers much more creativity. With Jones’ fitness in doubt recently, we may be able to see Hook at fly-half.
He has been compared to the Welsh legend Barry John in his attacking style of play since making his debut against Argentina in 2006. He had previously represented his country at U21 level and on the Sevens circuit, and now has 11 senior caps to his name.
Hook has the potential to shine in this year’s Rugby World Cup, where his dangerous speed and quality distribution is sure to be noticed. Wales will battle it out with Australia in Pool B, where they have a good chance of reaching the knockout stages as group winners.
Player Profile: Tom Rees
Position: Openside Flanker
Height: 1.80 m (5? 11?)
Weight: 100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Date of Birth: 11th September 1984
Birthplace: London
Tom Rees has surely cemented his place on the openside flank for England at this year’s Rugby World Cup with some exceptional performances for Wasps and England this season.
Rees and Magnus Lund, the Sale flanker, appeared to have similar chances of claiming the spot in the starting line-up with both performing well in the England jersey. However, coach Brian Ashton has already released Lund (and Andy Hazell), leaving Rees as the only specialist in his position – Lewis Moody will provide cover, but is preferred on the blindside.
Rees has represented England at the U16, U18, U19 and U21 age groups and so is no stranger to International rugby. His father played rugby for Swansea Schoolboys, and he was educated at RGS High Wycombe – so his rugby pedigree cannot be questioned.
His speed makes him a dangerous prospect in attack, and his stocky stature allows him to be a ferocious forager in the loose. Nevertheless, his first great test for the senior England team will come against South Africa in Pool A, where he will line up against Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, arguably two of the finest back row players in the world.
To support him into battle, Rees may benefit from running out alongside Wasps teammates Lawrence Dallaglio and Joe Worsley, but no matter what combination Ashton chooses, Rees will be there and England’s supporters will be hoping he lives up to his potential.
Player Profile: Richie McCaw
Richie McCaw is one of the world’s most famous rugby players as the All Blacks captain and arguably the best openside flanker in the game. Still only 26 years old, McCaw has 53 international caps to his name, 18 of which have been as captain.
The omnipresent McCaw will have given some thought to lifting the Web Ellis Trophy in Paris this year, with his team billed as hot favourites to win. He has captained the side over the last 2 years, leading New Zealand to the very top of world rugby.
The Canterbury Crusaders man is a stalwart in defence making punishing tackles and frequently winning turnover ball. He also has the pace and handling ability to be a fine attacking force and is an outstanding link man between backs and forwards, lubricating the frighteningly quick gameplan that the All Blacks employ.
He was awarded the IRB Player of the Year award in 2006 and will form a sublime back row unit along with Rodney So’oialo and Jerry Collins. Many are predicting a South Africa versus New Zealand World Cup final, so look out for McCaw against nemesis Schalk Burger as well as Pierre Spies and Juan Smith.
Player Profile: Pierre Spies
Position: Back row
Height: 1.94 m (6′ 4″)
Weight: 104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
Date of Birth: 8th June 1985
Birthplace: Pretoria
Pierre Spies is tipped to be one of the players of this year’s Rugby World Cup. He burst on to the international scene for South Africa last year with some outstanding performances that won him the Newcomer of the Year award from the International Rugby Players Association.
Along with Schalk Burger and Juan Smith, Spies makes up one of the strongest back rows in world rugby. Whilst a physical player with excellent hands, Spies’ pace stand him out from the others. Until recently, he played on the wing, representing the U19 side in this position.
If Spies can cut down on the number of penalties he concedes, he will make a significant impact at the tournament. For South Africa to progress, they will look to the likes of Burger, Brian Habana and Spies to perform – and at just 22, Spies already looks as if he is up to the task.
In the video below, watch Spies making a great run from the base of the scrum, and then scoring a couple of tries.
Player Profile: Dan Hipkiss
Position: Centre
Height: 1.78 m (5? 10?)
Weight: 121 kg (14 st 7 lb)
Date of Birth: 4th June 1982
Birthplace: Ipswich
Dan Hipkiss is a popular choice to start in England’s midfield for the World Cup this year, having completed a fine season at Leicester Tigers. Together with Alesana Tuilagi, Hipkiss was part of the most effective centre partnership in the country.
His scything running has opened up many Premiership defences this year, but Hipkiss is also renowned for his ferocious tackling. It is this combination of skills that make him a suitable candidate for the international side. Other contenders for the position do not seem to have this balance – Tait has great elusive speed but can be a liability in defence, whilst players like Tindall and Farrell only seem to know one way forwards in attack.
Hipkiss is no stranger to the England setup, having represented his country at U16, U17, U18 and U21 levels, as well as playing regularly for England Sevens team. If he is given a chance to impress in the World Cup warm up matches, there is every chance that he will be named in the final 30-man squad. The Rugby Blog would rather see him in there than old Mike Catt.
Hipkiss scored 15 tries for Leicester last season and was named Guinness Premiership Player of the Month for April.
Watch the video below from Sky Sports featuring Tuilagi and Hipkiss as Leicester’s danger men.
Player Profile: Phil Vickery
Position: Prop
Height: 1.91 m (6? 3?)
Weight: 121 kg (19 st 0 lb)Date of Birth: 14th March 1976
Birthplace: Barnstaple
Honours:
A favourite of The Rugby Blog, The Raging Bull is the current England captain and one of few survivors from the 2003 World Cup-winning team – indeed he played in all 7 games in the tournament.
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The ferocious prop will be a cornerstone in England’s scrum at this year’s World Cup. His leadership and tenacity around the park will be crucial if the team is to make a respectable defence of the Web Ellis Trophy. Have a look at the video below of Vickery smashing Olivier Magne in the Six Nations.
Player Profile: James Haskell
Position: Flanker
Weight 17st 6lbs (111kg)
Height 6ft 4” (1.93m).
Date of Birth: 2/4/85
Birthplace: Windsor, Berks.
James Haskell is widely tipped to feature in England’s back row at this year’s Rugby World Cup. The Wasps back row was given his opportunity through injuries to players such as Joe Worsley, but he has seized it with both hands and looks like a certainty to be named in Brian Ashton’s squad.
The young Wasps flanker has risen through the England ranks having represented the U18s, U19s and U21s before making his full debut in the senior side against Wales in the 2007 Six Nations.
His combination of pace and power make him a formidable asset to the back row, and is certainly one to watch for the future.
Player Profile: Jonny Wilkinson
Date of Birth: 25th May 1979
Birthplace: Frimley
Position: Fly Half
Height: 1.78 m (5′ 10″)
Weight: 85 kg (13 st 5 lb)
Honours: England (57 caps) British Isles (5 caps)
Where better to start my new Player Profiles series than with Wilko, possibly the most famous name in world rugby. Most renowned for kicking the dropped goal that won England the 2003 Rugby World Cup, Jonny is a legend of English rugby.
After making his debut at just 18 years old, Jonny seems to have been around for a while. A regular in the England team in the years leading up to 2003, he has won a half century of caps and has experience beyond his years.
Since that famous night in Sydney, there has been talk of him never playing for England again, suffering a seemingly endless string of injuries ranging from knee ligament damage to a lacerated kidney. However, his formidable return to Test rugby against Scotland in February put paid to that debate.
His metronomic boot and accurate kicking are the result of obsessive hours on the practice ground, and his dedication and love of the game cannot be questioned.
England’s hopes tend to rest on the little maestro, but as we saw in 2003 it takes more than one man to win a world cup.
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