Shane Wiliams thinks Wales latest teenage cap George North is a 'monster' who has been 'scoring tries for fun' this season.
The English-born, Welsh-speaking Scarlet returned only last week from a stress fracture of the ankle, but he will take on Springbok wing Bryan Habana after scoring four tries in five games earlier in the season.
North replaces Dragons wing Will Harries in a team which features the return of full back Lee Byrne, following a broken hand, and a starting spot for veteran flanker Martyn Williams.
Williams takes over from rival openside Sam Warburton who tore a calf last Saturday. The return of Byrne allows head coach Warren Gatland to move James Hook to centre ahead of Andrew Bishop.
North’s selection continues Gatland’s policy to blood outstanding young talent following 18-year-old Tom Prydie last March. North was born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, before his family moved to Anglesey when he was three. His father, David, is from Scarborough and works as a blacksmith while mum, Janet, provides the Welsh background.
‘It took my breath away,’ he said after the team announcement. ‘A couple of months ago I was starting the season with the Scarlets and now I am here. I’ve had texts coming through from the whole family. It’s amazing.’
‘He’s a monster of a young man and is very talented. He’s got great feet and hands for a big guy. There have not been many wings in Wales of George’s stature. I think he’s got a little bit of everything.’
North’s emergence has attracted comparisons with the legendary Jonah Lomu, and Williams thinks the pair might be on a par physically.
But Gatland tried to control the Lomu comparisons by stating that North had done ‘nothing yet’. Habana said he had not heard of North until this week.
He added: ‘He’s a big lad, over 100kgs I think, so he’s a bit bigger than Shane. He’s done well in the domestic leagues and I’m sure he won’t be looking to stray too far away from what he has been doing on Saturday.’
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