Battle of wings could be the defining clash
Has North still got what it takes after his years as Europe’s best or is May ready to seize his crown?
Aside from the potential Grand Slam implications, another title is at stake in Cardiff today – that of the best wing in the northern hemisphere.
It is an accolade that George North has held almost without question since he made his debut for Wales in 2010. He emerged as a teenager in a fully formed, enormous man’s body, who proceeded to lay waste to the record books. A starring role for the Lions confirmed his unlimited potential and at that early stage of his career he was untouchable.
But in the past couple of years his star has dimmed. Repeated concussions and a tough spell at Northampton seemed to take the edge off his performances and he was a passenger on last year’s Lions tour. There have been signs of a revival – most notably in his two well-taken tries against France – but somehow, at the age of just 26, there are questions over whether he is yesterday’s man.
His difficulties have created a void that is now being filled by two men.
The first of those is
Jacob Stockdale, the Irishman who broke the Six Nations try scoring record last year. The second is
Jonny May, who will be directly opposite North in Cardiff today and well aware he will be directly in the Welshman’s sights. If there were a Lions tour tomorrow Stockdale and May would likely be the starting wings, and if North represents the past then they look certain to be huge stars in rugby’s future.
The irony is that May, at 28, is just over two years older than North. But while the Welshman was an instant success in international rugby, it has taken his English counterpart a little longer to hit the same heights. May made his England bow in 2013 and scored 10 tries in his first 30 Tests – a fairly average return – but has followed that with 12 in as many games as his performances have moved from acceptable to excellent and, recently, world class. It is an improvement that few expected, but one which is thrilling to see. Part of the reason it has been so exciting to watch is that May possesses the one attribute I value above all others – pace. Teams can work out ways to combat strength, agility or a clever tactical plan but nothing terrifies defenders so much as a superquick winger running at full pelt. England know that too, and their strategy is designed to get the best out of May. I am not sure the same could be said of the way Wales play with North. He still has the instincts of a natural finisher – just look at the way in which he took his opportunities in Paris – but he rarely seems as involved as May now does. That said, to write off North completely would be foolish. He has scored five tries in his past nine games for Wales and, judging by the article I read with him in Thursday’s
Telegraph, is clearly angry with pundits who suggest he is over the hill. It will serve as excellent motivation and when he first gets the ball today I would expect him to run straight over May as he looks to prove a point.
But North may always be judged by the standards he set at the start of his career. They are both his blessing and his curse, and in many ways he reminds me of Michael Owen in football – a prodigious young talent who was gloriously successful as a teenager but struggled to maintain that form as his 30s approached. If North was showing this form at the start of his career we would be hailing his progress, but as he was so exceptional before he almost slips under the radar.
May, in contrast, is having what I would describe as a more “relatable” career. He started out as a promising player and has learnt from setbacks and improved to a point where he is performing at an exceptional level. Few of us can understand what it would be like to be a wonderkid, but the idea of working hard and growing in stature is not hard to comprehend.
And the bottom line is at the moment May is playing the better rugby of the two. If he shows that today then his status in the northern hemisphere will be almost assured.