Hook will line-up at fly-half against Canucks at the Millennium Stadium on Friday night © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

Features: Wales poised for big scalp

Preview: Wales v Canada - Match Pack

Players/Officials: James Hook

Teams: Wales

James Hook has been urged to boss the game when Wales continue their autumn Test series against Millennium Stadium visitors Canada tonight.

A convincing display by the Ospreys fly-half could see him handed the keys to number 10 against New Zealand tomorrow week. But it will be a significant character test as he returns to the international arena just six days after his intercepted pass effectively cost Wales a famous victory over world champions South Africa.

"We all realise on the management team what a great individual James Hook is," said Wales attack coach Rob Howley. "I know how positively he reacted from that interception pass.

"The control element of the game - the balance, the kick, the run, the pass - is what we are asking from James now. We want him to be a general, to organise, to communicate particularly with our forwards, and do the right thing at the right time. When he went on (against South Africa) he played very well, and now he has an opportunity to put his hand up and stake that claim for the New Zealand game and the number 10 jersey."

Despite Wales boss Warren Gatland making 12 changes from the starting line-up against South Africa - only wing Leigh Halfpenny, centre Tom Shanklin and skipper Ryan Jones remain - Canada's inexperience should be laid bare. The Canucks were sunk 55-0 by Ireland in rain-lashed Limerick last weekend - hardly form to trouble a Wales side containing the likes of Halfpenny, Hook and fit-again wing Mark Jones.

With centre Gavin Henson's troublesome Achilles injury ruling him out of the autumn fixtures, Gatland seemingly has few selection issues prior to his team tackling the All Blacks. It will be a case of Halfpenny or Jones to join automatic wing choice Shane Williams next week, while locks Ian Gough and Luke Charteris could challenge, given Wales' poor lineout display against South Africa.

The other areas for debate are fly-half - Hook or Stephen Jones - and hooker, where the highly-rated Richard Hibbard must take his chance tonight to pile pressure on Matthew Rees. Realistically though, few people expect Gatland not to retain the team that pushed South Africa so close, unless injuries force his hand. And looking a fortnight ahead to Australia, scrum-half Martin Roberts' Test debut tonight takes on added significance.

Wales' Lions scrum-halves Gareth Cooper and Dwayne Peel are unlikely to be available for the Wallabies encounter because it falls outside the International Rugby Board's autumn Test window and their respective clubs - Gloucester and Sale Sharks - will have first call on their services that weekend.

Howley added: "Martin suits the way we want to play. He has got an absolutely outstanding pass, he is very accurate and his kicking game has been good. These are exciting times, and it is important to give the opportunity to players. Just because you are young does not mean you cannot play international rugby.

"The pathway is important, and Leigh Halfpenny was a case example against South Africa. It's opportunity time, and I am sure the boys are looking forward to that chance."

Duncan Jones, meanwhile, has become the latest player to be sidelined for Wales' entire autumn schedule. The 52 times-capped Ospreys prop, who was not considered for the Canada match - or last weekend's clash against South Africa - has a foot injury.