CARRY ON GEORGE

North lit up the 2013 Lions in Australia and Gat hopes he can do the same in New Zealand

HE was the man who made the Lions believe. The try scorer who drained hope from the enemy.

George North (right) set the series alight against Australia in 2013, his spectacular try winning the first Test (below) and inspiring the tourists to a first series win for 16 years.

Four years on he is needed again. The Lions have moved on to New Zealand and this tour has not taken off. Not yet.

Shortly before handing North his first start against the Crusaders this morning, Warren Gatland demanded his team start producing moments of magic. The timing was no coincidence.

North, 25, is the Lions’ biggest strike weapon. They know it, the opposition knows it.

“One of the best in the world, a beast of a man,” is how Crusaders’ All Blacks full-back Israel Dagg puts it. He has 30 tries in 69 Tests for Wales, two in three for the Lions, and he is not done yet.

“When you come to New Zealand you know you’re going to get a lot of X factor coming back at you and Gats has put it to the squad that we have to deliver some ourselves,” said North.

“We know the challenge is huge and the games are tight. We need to start kicking on now.”

Sitting in the stands for the first two games North has heard the mutterings of discontent. He knows a win is needed to silence the outside noise.

He also knows that the Crusaders, unbeaten all season in the southern hemisphere’s top competition, are the best in

the business. “You definitely hear what’s being said,” North added. “One of the reasons Lions tours are so difficult is you have a number of games in close succession. Having to ride that roller-coaster of emotion up and down every few days is a...