Hook grabs Wales chance as Jones is left devastated as Gatland drops him

The revolving door which has transported players into and out of the Dragons' starting XV during this RBS Six Nations Championship spun one last time, ahead of Saturday's Grand Slam finale against France in Cardiff. Going through the entrance to claim the fabled No 10 shirt was a delighted James Hook. Pushed out of the exit to join the replacements was a devastated Stephen Jones.

As the last cut of the championship, it was undoubtedly the deepest and most painful of the lot.

The jettisoned Lions fly half had struggled in the wind during the first half against Ireland at Croke Park last Saturday but he had done enough during this campaign to believe that he could survive.

It was not to be. The new Kiwi coach of Wales has so far handled selection issues with the businesslike air of a man who feels justified in taking bold steps to show that form matters more than reputations. But a chink in the armour has emerged. Emotion is involved.

'Just like every game, we've looked at the No 10 situation in terms of who could do the best job for us in that particular game,' said Gatland. 'Against France — having spoken to the players — we've decided that James gives us more attacking options and can pose a serious threat to them.

'It is no consolation to Stephen that he can come off the bench and change the game for us or close the game down. He has those qualities. But he is absolutely gutted that he isn't starting.

'It has been an agonising decision to make as a coach and I certainly don't get any pleasure telling a player he has been left out. I really felt for Stephen personally, but he has tried to take it on the chin.

'It is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make, but it is my job to make those tough calls. At the time you are not the most popular person in the world and that is the hard side. You feel like you are letting those players down.'

Hook's return as the all-singing, all-dancing stand off who can make a mess of any defensive system will merely heighten the Welsh public's frenzied sense of anticipation.

It is a gloriously positive statement of intent against a French team committed to the revival of traditional attacking virtues. Hook cannot wait to light the fireworks.

'I didn't know who was going to be picked, so I'm just delighted to have the start,' he said. 'France have to win by 20 points to win the championship, so they have to take risks and it will be an open game, which should suit us.'

While Huw Bennett has been reinstated after being forced to pull out of the team to face Ireland with 'flu, the only other bone of contention surrounded Mike Phillips. The scrum half excelled in Dublin but earned a stint in the sin-bin for kneeing Marcus Horan.

'I had a talk to Mike after the Ireland game,' said Gatland. 'If the result had been different it could have cost him his place, so hopefully he will have learned from what's happened. Our thought process during his sin-binning was, "Do we replace him and put Dwayne Peel on?". But we decided to put Mike back on. He responded fantastically.'

Gatland jokingly admitted there was very little need for him to convince Phillips just how good he can be: 'I've told him that he could be the biggest, most imposing scrum half in world rugby. He thinks he already is and he told me that he's the best-looking as well! There's no lack of confidence in Mike.'

Sonny Parker, who is due to provide midfield cover from the bench, has 'flu-like symptoms, but Wales expect him to recover by Saturday.

Wales team: L Byrne (Ospreys); M Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), GHenson (Ospreys), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), H Bennett (Ospreys), A Jones (Ospreys), I Gough (Ospreys), AW Jones (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt).

Replacements: M Rees (Llanelli Scarlets), D Jones (Ospreys), I Evans (Ospreys), G Delve (Gloucester), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets), S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), S Parker (Ospreys).