How many apologies will George be making at this much-anticipated meeting?
It was only Friday night when a contrite George Hook went on The Late, Late Show and vowed to say sorry to Johnny Sexton for threatening to sue the Ireland fly-half.
The solicitor’s letter was sent following an interview in which Sexton reacted to Hook’s repeated calls for Sexton to retire for the good of his health. The Leinster, Ireland and Lions star suggested the former RTÉ pundit did not believe his own words and was just drumming up publicity.
Hook took great exception to this – hence the solicitor’s letter – but on Friday night, speaking to Ryan Tubridy, he rowed back from this, saying, “I absolutely regret what I did . . . When you are angry, when you are hurt and when you are offended you should really count up to 10. I didn’t get past one.”
Well, Hook can’t resist commenting on the health of Ireland’s talisman.
While he stopped short of calling for Sexton to hang up his boots again, in his Irish Independent column on Monday he does have another little needle at the number 10 in relation to his health and well-being.
“If Conor Murray and Jonathan Sexton kick as badly against Scotland as they did against England, then victory will remain elusive. The good news is that the out-half was replaced early on, which will do his health no end of good.”
It’s true that Sexton shipped another couple of hefty hits on Saturday before being called ashore 10 minutes into the second half, but why use the word “health” instead of “fitness”, as Hook surely would with any other Irish rugby player?
Otherwise Hook was predictably curmudgeonly in the face of Ireland’s 58-15 disassembling of a poor Italian outfit, questioning Simon Zebo’s defence for David Odiete’s try.
He highlights a genuine dilemma for Schmidt ahead of Saturday’s finale as the coach weighs up whether to start Zebo or the fit-again Rob Kearney at full-back. Hook reckons it should be neither.
“One has always had the impression that Schmidt does not fancy Simon Zebo and Saturday demonstrated why. The full back was always a threat in attack but in his two outings at full-back this season he has been less than secure,” writes Hook.
“The choice at No 15 next week will rest between Rob Kearney, who cannot attack, and Simon Zebo, who cannot defend. Meanwhile the two best full-backs in Ireland will play out of position in midfield.”
There is less chance of Jared Payne or Robbie Henshaw donning the 15 jersey on Saturday than there is of Hook and Sexton exchanging Christmas cards.
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