by Ben Jones
WAYNE Pivac might have been in the job five minutes, but he’s already caused a stir by dropping George North.
The winger has been in a slightly different role under Pivac – compared to former coach Warren Gatland – which sees him receive less of the ball, so when he does get it, he needs to more than likely do something with it.
In Paris last Saturday, only Leigh Halfpenny carried the ball for more metres (86) than North, who had 40 on four carries. The next best was Jonathan Davies who had a mere 13 metres. Doesn’t that tell you something? The answer is below.
George North dropped by Wales from what would have been his 100th Test. His non-performance in Paris really left Mr Pivac no option. https://t.co/ylyo53ZgvW
— Peter Jackson (@JackoRugby) October 29, 2020
Put the ball in North’s hands, and he’ll get you going forward. He’s big and he’s strong, he’s got the footwork and flair and if he isn’t scoring the tries, then he’s making space for others to cross the white line. He’s a constant threat to any team, but only when he is actually getting the ball, else he’s simply a passenger.
Now there is the argument that North has tailed off in the last few years – that he isn’t the same player we saw burst onto the scene in 2010. It’s true, he’s not. He’s gotten older but he hasn’t lost what he’s always had – pace, power and a knack for relieving pressure on Wales’ defence by either intercepting or finding a lane to get them up the pitch.
Pivac and his coaching staff are inevitably closer to the action than all of us, and in his presser, the New Zealander said that North lacked sharpness following his two months away from the game following a red card in August, and that it was “an easy decision” to drop the 28 year old.
It comes down to Wales needing to use North in more ways than one. There was talk of him moving to centre in the France game, but that never materialised, and Pivac has flirted with the idea of North at centre before, but his reluctance to put the Osprey there either as a trial or in a permanent role, has ultimately cost him his place.
All this begs the question; how does he rediscover the form that makes him the first name on the teamsheet [after Alun Wyn Jones, obviously] if he’s seated in the crowd with a hot brew and not out on the wing making runs and setting up teammates?
George North dropped by Wales from what would have been his 100th Test. I hope that when he comes back and he’s on form he gets the credit he deserves for that 100th. He has been unbelievable for Wales over his career, a career only us mere mortals can only dream about. 👍
— Lee Jarvis (@LeeJarvis10) October 29, 2020
Pivac also added that North is still in his future plans. The winger will know what he needs to improve on if he is to regain that 14 shirt he has held onto for so long, and Pivac’s trust. In the end however, it comes down to Wales not using North to the best of his abilities – putting the ball in his hands and letting him loose.
Wales finish their disappointing Six Nations campaign at home to Scotland on Saturday, before they begin their Autumn Nations Cup away to Ireland on November 13. Will George North be back to make his 100th Test appearance, or is he now playing second fiddle to the crop of younger wingers coming through in Josh Adams and Louis Rees-Zammit?
