The 31-year-old Ospreys wing isn’t ready to say adieu, even though his new Wales teammates make him feel old
GEORGE North will become only the fifth Welshman to play his 50th Six Nations game tomorrow but he is as eager to play against England as any debutant.
The Ospreys star missed out on last week’s enthralling defeat against Scotland due to injury, and he’s eager to help this new young Wales side overcome England at Twickenham (4.45pm).
North says Wales’ youth could play to their advantage and their “naivety” may help the team to put their own stamp on the game. He made specific reference to Dafydd Jenkins, saying the new captain had led well from the front and spoken very well throughout the week.
“I have been massively impressed with the young boys coming through,” he said.
Reflecting on where Wales missed out against Scotland, he said the team needs to make sure they deliver from the first minute.
North suggested that the young team might have got caught in the emotion of the day and that they need to learn that lesson fast.
“We have got to get a performance and a result,” said North.
“We weren’t good enough for the first 40 minutes and we don’t want to be there again.”
His 50th cap and future
In the week of his 50th cap, North was keen to stress that he is not the oldest in the team; he’s the second oldest with Gareth Davies topping the list, aged 33.
However, the elder statesman admits that he sometimes finds communicating with the younger players tricky nowadays.
“The biggest difference is they communicate via Snapchat,” he said.
North has racked up 118 caps for Wales – and three appearances for the British and Irish Lions – but despite his incredible experience his drive to play for his country has never changed.
His current focus is on getting through this year’s Six Nations, before he contemplates his international future ahead of a move to French second-tier side Provence next season.
“I’m sure a few fair people would’ve said I should finish a few years ago,” he said.
