- My Account
- Logout
- Register
- Login
Wales heading North with George
10 February 2012
Wales' teenage rising star George North will go into Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland being hailed as "a superstar of the game".
Winger North's debut Six Nations campaign, despite being just one game old, has already seen him break a world record. His try against Ireland in Dublin last weekend set a new mark of 10 for most Test touchdowns as a teenager, surpassing the previous best set by Argentina wing Gustavo Jorge.
Given that Jorge scored six of his nine tries against Brazil, while more than half of North's tally came against South Africa, England, Ireland and Argentina, it underlines what a startling impact he has made on international rugby.
Wales coach Warren Gatland described the 19-year-old's display last Sunday as "absolutely world-class," a performance highlighted by a destructive midfield break and brilliant one-handed offload that set up centre Jonathan Davies' second try.
"I was behind George when he gave the offload for Jon Davies' second try," Wales fly-half Rhys Priestland recalled. "I had to stop because I couldn't believe what I had just seen! He is a superstar of the game, and he is only 19. My first experience of George was when he started training with the Scarlets at the start of last season.
"I hadn't met him before, and I remember we were doing gym testing. This guy was just so much stronger than anyone else in the squad, and I said to him afterwards had he done much with his time off.
"He said he'd had exams, and I said were they university exams, and he said: `No, A levels!'
"I play in the same team as him all the time, and he doesn't seem to stop surprising me.
"I had heard of him when he was playing for Llandovery before he joined the Scarlets, and everyone said he was going to be a good player, but I had no idea he was so young and how good he was going to be.
"He is someone who concentrates on the basics. He tries to get over the gain-line, he runs hard and he has good support lines."
Top stories in Sport in brief
Sport in brief in Pictures
Top stories in Sport in brief
Sport in brief in Pictures
-
Eden Hazard is key to Roman Abramovich’s dreams of fantasy football at Chelsea
-
TV Baftas - in pictures
-
British woman Lindsay Sandiford facing death penalty over Bali drugs haul is mother of violent robber who carried out raids in London
-
London Fields forever: street style from the hipster park
-
News pictures of the day
-
Locked up and banned: The Tube drunk whose vile racist rant was caught on film (video)
-
British housewife facing FIRING SQUAD over Bali drugs smuggling charge was 'neighbour from hell' -
They attacked "like a pack" raining fists on a defenceless legal secretary. Yesterday they walked free from court. No wonder their victim says she has been denied justice.
-
Mayor demands report from Transport for London into Jubilee Line nightmare that left hundreds of commuters trapped for hours underground
-
Video: Intruder bursts into Leveson Inquiry to brand Tony Blair a war criminal
-
Usain Bolt is quick to tell fans he’ll be lightning fast again -
Invasion of the book snatchers: Brent Council sneaks into Kensal Rise library at 2am to strip it bare -
Video: Is this the World's most OTT marriage proposal? Hilarious film -
Lessons in love: Fifty Shades of Grey ignites desire to write erotica -
Drum'n'bass pioneer Goldie creates ‘rose’ portrait of the Queen
The O2
Check out the cool stuff happening under our tent such as the hottest gigs, comedy, sport, films, clubs, bars, restaurants and much more.
Can you imagine a career in teaching?
Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.
Playing a game-changing role during the Games
Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.
Win a Silverstone track day with Zantac 75
Feel the burn of a different kind - 20 Silverstone motoring experiences to be won
Celebrate with MARTINI®
This weekend toast one royal with another and make your Jubilee sparkle with a MARTINI Royale.
Reader Offers email A fantastic selection of
offers, giveaways and
promotions.