Tomorrow’s fixture against the Pumas in Marseille will be North’s 20th World Cup outing, leaving him just one short of Alun Wyn Jones’ tally of 21. A win at the weekend would mean Wales will play at least two more matches in France, allowing him to overtake his former Ospreys colleague.
North was only 19 when he played at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand and his two tries against Namibia made him the youngest ever try scorer at the tournament – aged 19 years and 166 days – overtaking Australian wing Joe Roff.
He won 20 caps for Wales as a teenager and became the first teenager in world rugby to score 10 Test tries. Since then he has become a mainstay in the Welsh side and his try against Georgia in the final pool match last weekend took him up to 47 for his country in 117 appearances.
“I think George has done exceptionally well moving from wing to centre. You know what he was like as a youngster on the wing, with all the power and pace he had,” said Wales head coach Warren Gatland.
“We moved him into the midfield because he is a hell of a lot slower now than he used to be . . . just joking, he’s not slow! He’s one of the leaders within the group and he is a big contributor, not just on the field, but definitely off it.
“It’s a fantastic accolade for him to have gone through some of the trials he has had in terms of injuries and concussions. At the moment, he is starting to play some really good rugby.
“We were pretty conscious at this World Cup we had to try to create a midfield combination that is a little bit more settled. We know how many combinations there have been in the last few years. That has helped the progress the team.
“It has meant, from an attacking perspective, that we’ve kept George together in the midfield for as many games as we had. That has made it easier on the back three and the guys outside them as well.
“He is a big part of the squad. I don’t know how long he has got left in his career, but it’s a huge accolade for him to have achieved what he’s done.”
Nick Tompkins will partner North in the midfield for the fourth time at this World Cup and has become his most regular partner at inside centre. He is loving playing alongside ‘the big fella’.
“He’s quite a big bloke, so it’s quite nice to be able to hand it off to him when people are smashing me. His is a pretty special career, an unbelievable achievement, especially when you realise it after how much hard work all of the boys in every team have to do for a World Cup,” said Tompkins.
“To go to the World Cup four times is pretty impressive. I’m not sure I’d be able to do that and it speaks volumes for the determination he has and the kind of bloke he is.
“He’s come back and he’s in the best form he’s been in for a long, long time. It has been a privilege to be alongside him while he’s achieving that.”
As for North himself, he’s not ready to be counted out of the running for a fifth World Cup in Australia just yet.
“I’ve got a slightly better haircut now than I did in 2011 and I’m a bit more of a leader rather than a follower. When I was 18 it was more of a case of enjoying every second of the rugby, and everything that came with it,” said North.
“That was my first experience and now, obviously, a few moons have passed but still loving the fact we are here, and we are fighting. We’re in a quarter final and we’ve just got to get on with it.
“We’ve been in some big games for Wales over the years and you learn when you’ve got to deliver. Our focus has basically been, let’s not change anything – do your job, do what you do well and bring it to the game.
“It’s great that the northern hemisphere teams are still fighting in the tournament and have got an opportunity to put their best foot forward. There are a few finals in the quarter final line-up in their own right.
George North in try scoring form against Georgia
“Hopefully, we can set the tone early on because this is now the pointy end of the stick. Whether you win by one or 100 points, you have just got to get that result.
“We have to make sure we play well and put our best foot forward. If we make the semi-finals it would be my third – 2011 and 2015. In 2015, we were leading South Africa for 75 minutes and then conceded at the end.
“I’d feel pretty proud to reach another one. I’ve always spoken about how much I’ve enjoyed the World Cups because of the preparation time – it’s the only time you get to feel you are a club side in terms of getting the detail done and having an off season.
“That has helped us in the past. If we can make the semi-finals it would be a huge achievement for this group of players and the coaches, who have done a great job.
“The backroom staff have been absolutely outstanding, and I know there are some people in some teams out there who won’t want to face a Wales team when they start playing with confidence and start gaining momentum.
“That is when we are at our most dangerous, we are starting to look that way at the moment.”
