Mike Phillips and James Hook face 'the end' with Wales, says James

James Hook and Mike Phillips are former Ospreys team-mates

Mike Phillips and James Hook's careers with Wales could be over, says former team-mate Dafydd James.

The experienced half-backs started Wales' opening 2015 World Cup warm-up defeat by Ireland at the weekend.

And with coach Warren Gatland stating Wales' first half display would affect World Cup squad selection, James fears for the pair.

"It does look like it may be the end for Hook and Mike Phillips, really," said ex-Lions and Wales wing James.

Wales travelled to north Wales to continue their World Cup preparations in the wake of Ireland's win.

Gatland expects to trim his 46-strong squad to "36 or 38" at the end of the week.

And on 31 August, he will name the 31 players who will be in contention to begin Wales' World Cup campaign against Uruguay in Cardiff on Sunday, 20 September.

But James believes 94-times capped Phillips and Hook, who has played 78 Wales Tests, may have their hopes dashed.

"It looked as though they had one shot at it and unfortunately it didn't come off for those [two] guys and it'll be sad to say the likelihood is that they shan't be making the final cut," he said.

"I'm pretty sure they'll be thinking the same things as well."

Ospreys' Rhys Webb has overtaken British and Irish Lion Phillips in Gatland's pecking order, while Scarlets' Gareth Davies and Lloyd Williams of Cardiff Blues are also battling for scrum-half spots.

The competition for Gloucester's Hook at fly-half is even stiffer. Dan Biggar from Ospreys is first-choice, while Rhys Priestland (Bath), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Patchell (Cardiff Blues) and Matthew Morgan (Bristol) are also in contention to make the cut.

Current Wales squad:

Props: Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues), Rob Evans (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Paul James (Ospreys), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys).

Hookers: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Kristian Dacey (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Ken Owens (Scarlets).

Locks: Jake Ball (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Dominic Day (Bath), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Rory Thornton (Ospreys).

Back-rows: Dan Baker (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons), James King (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt).

Scrum-halves: Gareth Davies (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing 92), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues).

Fly-halves: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), James Hook (Gloucester), Matthew Morgan (Bristol), Rhys Patchell (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath).

Centres: Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues), Jack Dixon (Newport Gwent Dragons), Tyler Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Scott Williams (Scarlets).

Wings: Hallam Amos (Newport Gwent Dragons), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Eli Walker (Ospreys).

Full-backs: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Liam Williams (Scarlets).