North is a winger, let him do his thing
IT’S going to be vital for Wales to have versatile players within their squad at the World Cup, but I do wish the coaches would stop messing around with George North. George is someone I’ve spoken a lot about in my column over the last few weeks, but I make no apology for that. He’s a player I believe Warren Gatland has to have at his best if his team are to win in Japan.
In my opinion shifting him across the back line from game to game won’t help him in the slightest. It’s time to end George’s rotation policy and for Warren to stick to his guns.
When Warren announced his summer tour squad he spoke openly about his belief George could well play centre and that he may end up there on a permanent basis some day.
At the time I got behind the move because I’ve no doubt George has the rugby ability to excel in midfield.
While I stand by those comments, I also still maintain that wing is his best position and that is where he started the first Test with Argentina. It’s where he can cause the most damage.
I’m sure some people will be reading this and saying it was circumstances – namely a lack of another real 13 option – which saw George start in that position for the 22-20 win over South Africa.
For that game in Washington Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams were still resting following the Scarlets’ Guinness PRO14 final with Leinster and there wasn’t really anyone else to consider.
I accept that argument, but the move had to be abandoned anyway in the first half when Steffan Evans went off injured and Hadleigh was quickly introduced.
I’d like to take the mention of Steffan’s name to wish him all the best on what seems like a nasty injury. He looks a superb talent and hopefully he’ll back firing as soon as possible.
Back to George. We all know he’s returning to his best and I’m concerned too much is being placed on his shoulders, especially in terms of looking to play him in a new position.
I read with interest comments from George ahead of the game with the Springboks in which he said he’d had a lot of talks with Shaun Edwards about playing the centre role.
George said those conversations were almost entirely about defence and knowing Shaun as a coach, I can certainly empathise. I used to get shouted at all the time!
While I readily accept the importance of defensive structure in today’s game, I believe the worst thing that could happen to George right now is to be over-coached.
The last thing he needs is to over think what he’s doing.
That’s why him playing on the wing has to be the best bet for the rest of this Argentina tour. It’s where George plays his natural game and can influence proceedings the most.
I also quite like the balance of having George out wide and someone like Josh Adams on the other flank. Steffan would be another great option too, were he not out injured.
To have a ‘little and large’ combination is very handy as a back line as it keeps the opposition guessing. As a defender in wide channels you don’t know who you’re going to be
“The worst thing that could happen to George right now is to be over coached”
coming up against and you don’t know if they’re going to run over you or round you. That’s exciting as an attacking team. Wales can have that moving forwards with George at his best on one wing.
There are then lots of other options to partner him too which is exciting.
As I mentioned right at the start it’s important to have versatility within a squad at a World Cup, as we saw at the 2015 tournament when George moved into the centre.
Of course if such a situation arose again – probably through injury – I’m not saying we shouldn’t bring him into that role. It’s just I don’t see the need to give him a run there over a long period of time.
When you break it down to the basics, the question you have to ask yourself is whether George is our best option at 13 when everyone is fit?
I’m sure I’m not the only to believe that the answer to that is no and that Jonathan Davies is an automatic choice there, probably with Hadleigh inside him.
Then you’ve got the likes of Scott, Owen Watkin and Tyler Morgan too.
On the wing it’s a different story. George is our best player there full stop and it’s as simple as that.
So please Warren, keep George out wide, stop moving him back and forth, and you’ll get the rewards of a world-class international playing full of confidence in his natural position.