Wales’ North hoping to add more misery on France

Winger George North will win his 50th international cap when Wales visit France in the Six Nations on Saturday by extending his run of try scoring against the French.

Twenty-two-year-old English born North will become the youngest international to reach 50 caps after winning three for the British and Irish Lions and 47 for Wales.

The towering Northampton Saints wing scored tries against France in each of the last two years and will be looking to continue that form as Wales seek a fourth straight win over Philippe Saint-Andre’s side.

North will make his comeback for Wales having sat out the 26-23 win in Scotland two weeks ago due to a pair of concussions suffered against England the week before.

“He is an exceptional player,” Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said.

“George scored the last time we were out there in 2013 and last year in Cardiff when they messed up at the back in defence. So he has a pretty good try-scoring record, and hopefully it will continue on the weekend.

“It is a phenomenal record (50 Tests).”

“If you think when we gave George his first cap back in 2010 against South Africa when he was just 18, and you look back at that performance at such a young age, he showed a maturity on the wing and the number of touches he had, scoring two great tries.

“That’s the question we want to keep asking of George.”

It will be almost like a home away from home match for Wales with five of the starting line-up on Saturday playing their club rugby in France.

Leigh Halfpenny is at European champions Toulon, Jonathan Davies plays for Clermont while Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Luke Charteris all ply their trade with Racing-Metro in Paris.

Dan Lydiate, who will start at blindside flanker, also spent 18 months at Racing before returning home a couple of months ago.

“It is obviously a very useful tool to have when players are able to give you an insight,” Howley added.