North given green light for England

George North has been given the go-ahead to win his 100th cap against England having missed Wales’ second Six Nations win against Scotland last weekend with a foot injury.

But the 28-year-old British and Irish Lions star has returned to training ahead of England’s visit to Cardiff on Saturday week.

Wales attack coach Stephen Jones said: “George is making good progress, every day he is improving.

“He’s taken part in some sort of training already, which is great, and that’s the good thing from our perspective. I believe it is a full green light.”

North’s fellow centres Johnny Williams and Jonathan Davies are also back in training, while flanker Josh Navidi has overcome the neck injury which forced him to miss the Scotland win. Full-back Leigh Halfpenny, who was injured at Murrayfield, and wing Hallam Amos are going through HIA protocols. Scrum-half Tomos Williams has been ruled out with a hamstring problem.

Jones said: “Hallam and Leigh are still going through the protocols. But Johnny Williams is good, it’s the same with Navidi’s neck and Jonathan Davies.”

IRELAND

Andy Farrell insists he is not fazed by pressure following Ireland’s dismal start to the Guinness Six Nations.

The Irish are almost certainly playing only for pride in their remaining three games after losing their opening two Six Nations fixtures for the first time following defeats to Wales and France, yet head coach Farrell is not perturbed by the increased scrutiny on his position.

“I’ve dealt with it all my life. You either embrace the pressure or you get buried by it,” said the 45-year-old, who succeeded Joe Schmidt after the 2019 World Cup.

“I enjoy it; it makes you feel alive. You know that when you are taking the gig on. I believe if you’ve not got pressure in your life, it’s not living anyway, so it goes with the territory, I suppose.”