George North

My original post is still below. Just editing to admit I misunderstood, and am glad I was wrong in believing posters felt North had been out of form for Wales and Scarlets recently.
I blame my age and the number of miles i am driving atm.

Reading posts both on International and Club section indicates that North is not in very good form, with mutterings about him being "undroppable". Whenever asked to name Lions sides he has been one of the first names on my team sheet on the back of 2011/12 form.

So some genuine questions as having not seen the Scarlets play this season and only limited fragments of the Welsh tour of Australia i do not know:

Is his current form poor?
If so why? Is he carrying an injury? Had too much rugby? Suffering 2nd season syndrome? Something else?
Are there players you feel should be playing for Scarlets/Wales ahead of him?


I miss the George North is tougher than Chuck Norris jokes.

To be honest I have missed the George North articles myself.

By the way, Schalk Burger phoned George North the other day and took him on about allowing Superman to loan Schalk's pajamas. He said and I quote "I loaned you my PJ's to enhace your reputation, not that pansy Superman"

Schalk said that was the last time he loaned George anything ever again.

Where on earth have you read that George North is in poor form?

3 tries in 2 games, It's the best form he's been in for the Scarlets for over a season now, much better than last year (which was his 2nd season syndrome year)

Unless of course, you are merely joking.....

Well he's scored 3 tries in first 2 games so his form cant be that bad.

So his form is good. On a Lions thread there seemed serious discussion that Cuthbert is a better choice due to recent form (including the summer I think), while I perhaps misread comments on Scarlets threads that he was "undroppable" as sarcasm.

Apologie, and thanks for correcting me.

Still not as good as Visser. Try again.

(Or play on the other wing)

In all seriousness I think the Lions should consider not having just power wingers, so they'd probably want to take Ashton and Bowe and play them on the other wing to North / Cuthbert / Visser

For me Bowe and North would be my choices but again there few in the mix both power n style type players.

bedfordwelsh wrote:For me Bowe and North would be my choices but again there few in the mix both power n style type players.

That's why my Lions selection is Bowe and North.

LondonTiger wrote:So his form is good. On a Lions thread there seemed serious discussion that Cuthbert is a better choice due to recent form (including the summer I think), while I perhaps misread comments on Scarlets threads that he was "undroppable" as sarcasm.

Apologie, and thanks for correcting me.

nah no need to apologise! We just meant undroppable as he's just that good

No shabby start to the season from North, as quoted above three tries in two games so far including a brace against Leinster. I'd have to guess either you imagined reading North is in poor form or you now have definitive proof that what you read from envious haters isn't always true

Fun fact btw: George North's favourite pizza topping is sliced puffer fish and ground up box jellyfish complemented with a simple yet scrumptious sauce consisting of vinegar and a dash of king cobra venom.

Knowsit17 wrote:No shabby start to the season from North, as quoted above three tries in two games so far including a brace against Leinster. I'd have to guess either you imagined reading North is in poor form or you now have definitive proof that what you read from envious haters isn't always true

Fun fact btw: George North's favourite pizza topping is sliced puffer fish and ground up box jellyfish complemented with a simple yet scrumptious sauce consisting of vinegar and a dash of king cobra venom.

I heard he washes all of that down with a glass of acid.

Not just any acid Biltong, North drinks only organic molecular acid freshly squeezed from the head of a Xenomorph. Last I heard Bakkies Botha was still on the regular processed stuff.

Knowsit17 wrote:Not just any acid Biltong, North drinks only organic molecular acid freshly squeezed from the head of a Xenomorph. Last I heard Bakkies Botha was still on the regular processed stuff.

To be fair Bakkies is sponsored, so he can't be bothered with the organic stuff.

Besides he says the organic stuff gives him heartburn.

So.....is it if or when....I mean North converting to centre?

Could it work?

Biltong wrote:

Knowsit17 wrote:Not just any acid Biltong, North drinks only organic molecular acid freshly squeezed from the head of a Xenomorph. Last I heard Bakkies Botha was still on the regular processed stuff.

To be fair Bakkies is sponsored, so he can't be bothered with the organic stuff.

Besides he says the organic stuff gives him heartburn.

bedfordwelsh wrote:Well he's scored 3 tries in first 2 games so his form cant be that bad.

Yeah but with his massive credentials he is still under performing, the opposition were merely human not bears like who he trains with.

There was a rumour that the earthquake felt in Korea last week and the tremors in italy were linked to Georges mum running out of shredded wheat...?

maestegmafia wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Well he's scored 3 tries in first 2 games so his form cant be that bad.

Yeah but with his massive credentials he is still under performing, the opposition were merely human not bears like who he trains with.

There was a rumour that the earthquake felt in Korea last week and the tremors in italy were linked to Georges mum running out of shredded wheat...?

Nope rumour wrong, those tremors felt in Italy was the "non headbutt" by Etzebeth on Nathan Sharpe.

offload wrote:So.....is it if or when....I mean North converting to centre?

Could it work?

he played most of his age-grade rugby at 13. it may happen one day at pro-level, but for the forseeable future he'll stay out on the wing, we've got enough centres in Wales and at the scarlets at the moment.

The Lions are going to have some serious monsters to choose in their backline come the summer. Wales has a well documented selection of behemoths in Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts, Jon Davies, Cuthbert and North, but if you add in the likes of Tuilagi, Visser, Bowe etc then Australia could be in the market for some bigger tackle bags to practice with.

The problem will be creativity though.

You can bash into the Aussies all you want and they will deal with, that's their speciality.

KickAndChase wrote:Still not as good as Visser. Try again.

(Or play on the other wing)

'Mc'Visser needs to have a good game against a decent International side before you can make ridiculous claims like that.

I don't think he should be a Lion personally, we have enough quality British and Irish wingers anyway

- thats a whole different can of worms altogether munk!!

I dont think the Lions will suffer with creativity, even that in itself comes through physicality. As long as there is more than the 'run straight and hard' technicque, and theres a few angles being run, i dont think the lions would do too badly playing a huge backline. But you'd have to balance that with a very mobile pack who could contest the breakdown.

Its all about balance, the backs will have to compliment the pack thats picked, but I have no doubt Gats will want at least 2 strike runners from the midfield and back 3.

gowales wrote:The problem will be creativity though.

You can bash into the Aussies all you want and they will deal with, that's their speciality.

Well, JD2 is probably the most creative 13 at the moment (although that may change if BOD becomes 5 years younger), North, Bowe, Visser and Cuthbert are all pretty creative wingers, they come in field and look to create off their centre.

That's why a Roberts - Tuilagi partnership is out though.

wales606 wrote:a Roberts - Tuilagi partnership

Comfort wrote:

wales606 wrote:a Roberts - Tuilagi partnership

Yep

Could Davies - Tuilagi work though?

Biltong wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

bedfordwelsh wrote:Well he's scored 3 tries in first 2 games so his form cant be that bad.

Yeah but with his massive credentials he is still under performing, the opposition were merely human not bears like who he trains with.

There was a rumour that the earthquake felt in Korea last week and the tremors in italy were linked to Georges mum running out of shredded wheat...?

Nope rumour wrong, those tremors felt in Italy was the "non headbutt" by Etzebeth on Nathan Sharpe.

Sorry bill got the dates wrong...

I noticed Etzebeth didn't get any prettier and neither did Sharpe

gowales wrote:Could Davies - Tuilagi work though?

I think Davies and Beck need more time together for Wales, I really think that could be interesting if both are on form.

Or Scott Williams

gowales wrote:Could Davies - Tuilagi work though?

Absolutely!

I actually think JD2 will be the first centre on the teamsheet if he keeps his form up this season, I hope the green guys wont get offended but I will be royally p*ssed if BOD starts the lions tests unless hes in blistering form and has some pace left. You need to have Roberts or Tuilagi as the power centre (both have the brains to run angles and a trick or 2 up their sleeve) but then you need a ball player. I think JD2's the man for that at the moment (maybe Scott williams will keep improving, I'd like to see him show some more awareness to his outside men first though), or Bowe could be a leftfield choice outside Roberts/Tuilagi? He has all the skills for it.

maestegmafia wrote:

gowales wrote:Could Davies - Tuilagi work though?

I think Davies and Beck need more time together for Wales, I really think that could be interesting if both are on form.

Agreed i'm not sure if they will take Beck on the Lions tour though unless he is playing exceptionally well.

Davies and Roberts are pretty much nailed on atm.

Relax, he's a shoe-in for a Lions wing spot, probably paired with Visser. If England would play Ashton at 12 this season, he may even be ready to play that role for the Lions.

Comfort wrote:

gowales wrote:Could Davies - Tuilagi work though?

Absolutely!

I actually think JD2 will be the first centre on the teamsheet if he keeps his form up this season, I hope the green guys wont get offended but I will be royally p*ssed if BOD starts the lions tests unless hes in blistering form and has some pace left. You need to have Roberts or Tuilagi as the power centre (both have the brains to run angles and a trick or 2 up their sleeve) but then you need a ball player. I think JD2's the man for that at the moment (maybe Scott williams will keep improving, I'd like to see him show some more awareness to his outside men first though), or Bowe could be a leftfield choice outside Roberts/Tuilagi? He has all the skills for it.

I completely agree, JD2 is starting in the centres if his form continues. Then its a matter of who is second which will decide whether JD2 is at 12 or 13.

What % of Norths tries are scored from forward passes?

Talking about forward passes, SA is the only team that doesn't score from forward passes.

















We don't pass.

England are the only team not to get tries from the TMO!
















Everyone hates us.

HERSH

What about Argentinas perfectly good try V NZ?!

They don't hate you, they just don't give desicions to the underdogs!

HERSH wrote:England are the only team not to get tries from the TMO!

If it wasn't for tries awarded by the TMO England would have lost their first two games in the six nations against Italy and Scotland.

maestegmafia wrote:

HERSH wrote:England are the only team not to get tries from the TMO!

If it wasn't for tries awarded by the TMO England would have lost their first two tries in the six nations against Italy and Scotland.

HERSH wrote:What % of Norths tries are scored from forward passes?

Only the interceptions.

offload wrote:

HERSH wrote:What % of Norths tries are scored from forward passes?

Only the interceptions.

LT, in my opinion North was never off form, he consistently performs. England fans were saying he was off form because when they looked at match reports they didn't see his name on the try count. When he burst onto the scene in his first season for the Scarlets was scoring length of the field tries, then seemed to continue to score when called up for Wales. The young man kept getting injury set-backs though, it even got to the point where he had more games for Wales than Scarlets. He's started this season well and uninjured so far (fingers crossed); in the past North seemed to pick up a knock in every single game. Cuthbert has been in good game form every game he's played for Wales and the Blues, that also looks as if it is on-going . I'd like to see both go on the Lions tour. For now they're both penciled into the Wales starting XV.

Norths impact and presence sets up a lot of great positions for his teams, when he commits two or three of the opposition outside backs to a ruck making space for his team to score.

Also has a killer behind the back off load.

His setup of JD2's try against Ireland was superb, as was his own one where he just smashed through 2-3 players to score. He's versatile and still has lots of time to improve. He'll be a centre ina couple of years

munkian wrote:His setup of JD2's try against Ireland was superb, as was his own one where he just smashed through 2-3 players to score. He's versatile and still has lots of time to improve. He'll be a centre ina couple of years

Imagine George North up against Chris Ashton in the centers in the next RWC. That will truely be an interesting contest. I'd tend to back Ashton because he has more dimensions to his game than just the crash ball.

So has North ? And I'm not sure why you'd make Ashton a centre ?

anotherworldofpain wrote:

munkian wrote:His setup of JD2's try against Ireland was superb, as was his own one where he just smashed through 2-3 players to score. He's versatile and still has lots of time to improve. He'll be a centre ina couple of years

Imagine George North up against Chris Ashton in the centers in the next RWC. That will truely be an interesting contest. I'd tend to back Ashton because he has more dimensions to his game than just the crash ball.

I think everyone who isn't English would love to see Ashton in the centre. You really could not be more accurate.

Why would we want to move the BEST Winger in the world to Centre?