CONSIDERED a ‘god’ by his adoring fans at Perpignan, James Hook will hope his play at outside-half will be divine for Wales tomorrow night against Tonga.

The supremely blessed 28-year-old gets his first start for his country in his preferred position of No 10 in after a two-year wait.

The last time Hook played at fly-half for Wales was during the failed effort to finish their fine 2011 World Cup on a high after they lost their third/fourth placed play-off to Australia.

Since then he has been limited to cameo roles during the Grand Slam triumph of 2012 and last season’s successful Six Nations defence, but missing out on the triumphant British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in the summer.

His Perpignan teammate, former Newport Gwent Dragons star Luke Charteris (who makes his first start for Wales in nearly a year tomorrow) has revealed just how profound the depth of devotion is for Hook by the Stade Aimé Giral faithful in rugby-mad Catalan country.

“The fans love him,” Charteris said. “He’s done so well for Perpignan for a couple of years. “He’s been their main kicker and points scorer and stuff. He is a bit of a god over there, isn’t he?”

And Hook, who can also play at centre and full-back, will no doubt want to send the Millennium Stadium flock home happy tomorrow night, but was plainly embarrassed at being elevated to such lofty status.

“I don’t know about a god,” he replied. “I think the fans out there in Perpignan, not just to me, but to the team, are really passionate.

“When we have lost by 20 or 30 points at home, they’re still there cheering and supporting us. They support you to the hilt. I guess that’s what Luke means.”

Hook, who wins his 73rd cap tomorrow evening, is conscious of not trying to force things at No 10 as Wales look to build on last week’s record 40-6 victory over Argentina after the disappointing 24-15 setback to South Africa at the beginning of the month.

“I want to do the basics, everything well, not try too hard because it can go the other way,” he said.

“I want to do what’s right for the team. It would be nice to put a good performance in, for the team and individually.

“Obviously, it’s going to be physical. They will come out all guns blazing. I saw them against France (the visitors lost 38-18 at Le Havre) – a couple of my teammates (centre Sione Piukala and prop Alisona Taumalolo) from Perpignan were playing for Tonga. The prop was sent off. “He’s a really quiet and nice boy off the pitch but, when he crosses the gain-line, he’s different.

“It’s like he flicks a switch. It just shows the competitive nature of him. If we don’t do the basics well, we will make it difficult for ourselves.”