Hook scored 22 points and played with maturity, poise and confidence as Wales edged an enthralling encounter to avoid both a Six Nations whitewash and the wooden spoon.

The 21-year-old said: Last night I could only have dreamt it would go that well. It was a huge effort from all the boys.

The forwards set a superb platform and for an outside half to play behind that pack was awesome.

We weren't too concerned about the wooden spoon. Any Welshman gets up for playing against England anyway - it's superb.

Hook only started at fly-half because Jones was ruled out during the week after suffering a fractured bone in his wrist.

Head coach Gareth Jenkins said: He deserves that bottle of champagne he got (for man of the match), that is for sure.

He has proven to everyone how talented he is. He put in a huge contribution into getting that result for us.

Stephen Jones had been under increasing pressure during Wales' run of five straight defeats and there had been rumours of fissures in the camp.

Hook's performance will only serve to increase the clamour for him to be Wales' starting fly-half at the World Cup later this year.

But, in a show of solidarity, Hook and Gareth Thomas dedicated the performance and the victory to Jones.

Hook said: I'd like to dedicate the performance to Steve. I was selected at outside half because he is injured. He is a great leader and a great captain.

Thomas, the stand-in skipper, added: The main motivation was for Stephen Jones. There is a guy in the changing room who has taken lot of flak and we could have just cast him aside.

But this is a team game. The best thing we could do for this environment, for this team was to win today and dedicate it to Stephen.

Thomas urged supporters to celebrate in style, but he vowed the Wales squad will reflect soberly on an otherwise disappointing campaign.

He said: As a nation now we will go crazy and drink the bars dry. We will have millions of people to go crazy for us.

Beating England is great but it is not everything. We need to put right all the faults of the tournament.