North hits top 20 and looks to go up charts

WALES wing star George North will prepare to take on Argentina in Santa Fe on Saturday having joined the ranks of the world’s leading try-scorers.

North’s first-half score in last weekend’s 23-10 victory over Argentina in San Juan not only lifted him level with Ieuan Evans into third on Wales’ try charts (33), but also elevated him into some illustrious company in the top 20 of all time.

The North Walian, who also has two Test scores for the British & Irish Lions, now sits level with All Black great John Kirwan and has some other stellar names in his sights.

Former New Zealand captain Tana Umaga is next ahead of him on 36 with the legendary Jonah Lomu on 37.

Considering North is still only 26 years of age, he could, fitness permitting, have at least five or six seasons remaining with the national team.

And you wouldn’t rule him out making a challenge for the alltime record of 69, held by Japan’s Daisuke Ohata.

As for Wales, only Gareth Thomas (40) and Shane Williams (58) have scored more.

Out of the world’s current top 20, Kiwi pair Julian Savea and Joe Rokocoko as well as Aussie centre Adam Ashley-Cooper are still playing professional rugby.

However, Rokocoko’s last Test appearance was eight years ago; Savea has fallen out of favour with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen following last year’s Lions series, while Ashley-Cooper hasn’t played for the Wallabies since 2016

Which means an injury-free North is likely to make rapid progress up the charts, ticking off some greats of the game along the way.

For a player who has had his well-documented concussion and injury issues in recent years, it is a remarkable achievement.

1 Daisuke Ohata (Japan) 69, 2 Bryan Habana (South Africa) 67, 3 David Campese (Australia) 64, 4 Shane Williams (Wales & British and Irish Lions) 60, 5 Hirotoki Onozawa (Japan) 55, 6 Rory Underwood (England & Lions) 50, 7 Doug Howlett (New Zealand) 49, 8 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland & Lions) 47, 9= Christian Cullen (New Zealand) 46, 9= Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand) 46, 9= Julian Savea (New Zealand) 46, 12 Jeff Wilson (New Zealand) 44, 13 Gareth Thomas (Wales & Lions) 41, 14 Chris Latham (Australia) 40, 15= Serge Blanco (France) 38, 15= Joost van der Westhuizen (South Africa) 38, 17= Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia) 37, 17= Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) 37, 19 Tana Umaga (New Zealand) 36, 20= John Kirwan (New Zealand) 35, 20= GEORGE NORTH (Wales & Lions) 35.

Test rugby’s top try-scorers: