Edwards expects to rediscover true North

Shaun Edwards has admitted that star wing George North “was not at his best” in the defeat against Scotland that effectively ended Wales’ RBS 6 Nations title hopes.

North had a poor game defensively when Wales conceded 20 unanswered points at Murrayfield nine days ago, a Scottish second-half onslaught that was highlighted by tries for wings Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser.

And while North is expected to keep his place when Wales host Ireland on Friday night, defence specialist Edwards knows individual defensive errors anywhere in the team cannot be repeated.

“I think that George North had a very good game against Italy (Wales’ opening Six Nations opponents last month) in very, very difficult circumstances,” Edwards said.

“He got a really bad bang on his leg and toughed it out well.

“Yes, he wasn’t at his best against Scotland, but I think great players, who have done great things for you in the past, sometimes deserve a warning.

“If he is selected, I expect George to be certainly on his mettle.”

Asked if the general defensive mistakes against Scotland were team or individual issues, Edwards added: “They were individual mistakes because they (players) didn’t do what they practised in the build-up to the game.

“They decided to do what they wanted and not what the rest of their team-mates expected them to do.”

Picture: Getty. Not at his best: George North.