North is another big worry for Wales
WARREN GATLAND is sweating on the fitness of another of his Wales kingpins after Lions wing George North became an 11th hour withdrawal from Northampton’s Anglo-Welsh Cup clash with Sale.
North was due to make his first start since October after being told by Wales coach Warren Gatland to prove his fitness and build up confidence ahead of the opening of Six Nations hostilities with Scotland in Cardiff.
But the 25-year-old didn’t get any further than the pre-match warm-up at Salford’s AJ Bell Stadium. Northampton pulled him at the last minute as a “precautionary measure” after saying North was ‘tight’ following a tough week of training with Wales.
Gatland is already without seven Lions for the must-win opener with the Scots, with Liam Williams, Jonathan Davies, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate and Sam Warburton absent.
Lock enforcer Jake Ball and reserve outside-half Rhys Priestland are also sidelined through injury, leaving Gatland with fingers crossed about North.
Sale coach Alan Dickens said: “He’s probably had a tough week training with Wales. It was unfortunate, a last-minute withdrawal so not ideal.”
Gatland is due to name his side to face Scotland in the Six Nations opener on Tuesday and will want to have some light shed on the situation urgently.
There was some good news for Gatland with wing Josh Adams strengthening his case for a Wales debut by scoring two more tries for Worcester against Exeter, taking his tally for the season to 13.