Hungry: George North
Wales wing George North has said he is relishing the chance to test himself against New Zealand, a side he feels set the highest standards in rugby.
The powerful 20-year-old, who has taken to Test rugby like a duck to water, knows the Welsh face the best in November but is up for the challenge.
"I saw the highlights of their game against Australia," North told Sky Sports ahead of facing Argentina, Samoa, the All Blacks and Wallabies.
"It looked like a great game. It was 18-all and New Zealand were going for a record number of wins and that kind of sets the standard.
"If those two can battle for 80 minutes and it comes down to a drop-goal, I think that's the standard we have got to try and compete at if we want to be top three in the world."
North was part of the Welsh squad that fell to a disappointing 3-0 series whitewash in Australia over June, which saw his team take a step backwards following their Six Nations Grand Slam earlier in the year. But the wing remains confident of upsetting the southern hemisphere nations over next month.
"Every team has got its negative points where you can beat them. When it comes to the game you have just got to play what you see," he added.
"If they look at us, they can see ways they can beat us but I'm sure we will sit down, analyse their game and work out different ways of having a crack at them."
Comments
Piriaka says...
Good on this young fella!
Posted 14:13 03rd November 2012
jonesy2 says...
why is getting whitewashed by the wallabies a step backwards after winning the six nations? thats seems about accurate. also mitchell marsh and this guy look exactly alike.
golden_statenba -- how are you liking the start of the NBA season? you must be over the moon they got bogut, just need him at 100% and they will be dominant
Posted 07:18 03rd November 2012
paulynz says...
@PREEST
Agreed, tremendous heart shown by the Wallabies that day (I'm a kiwi too).
Posted 22:23 27th October 2012
paulynz says...
I've watched the highlights packages of this young fella on YouTube. Yes, they're just highlights but he looks like an mighty impressive player.
Looks to have good ball skills and field vision to go with his size and pace and doesn't appear to get white-line fever when another player is in a better position to score.
The tone of his comments in this article seems to suggest that he's a quite level-headed young man too.
Posted 22:18 27th October 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Which Welsh players are on form right now? Ryan Jones... Byrne... Cuthbert... Umm. Are they pinning too much on the Poland magic?
Posted 19:25 26th October 2012
golden_statenba says...
I have just come back form Wales and everyone I spoke to gave Wales no hope???
Come on Wales!!
I must say I love it when I get the opportunity to go to Wales. The Welsh have a great respect for the game and the All Blacks.
It is very similar to how I remember NZ
Posted 17:23 26th October 2012
Dezz says...
Its Wales vs New Zealand (BaaBaas). I'll set them up you knock em down.
Posted 15:52 26th October 2012
pigdog14 says...
davej we must not just write teams off so quickly......the RWC showed us that on their day any team can win ....
Just remember Canada beat Tonga ,then Tonga beat France who made the finals!!! Then there was the cracker games of Ireland v Austrailia and the near shock result of Ireland v USA.....the games arent played on paper but on the pitch my friend
Posted 15:38 26th October 2012
jaswai says...
He's an international player and he watches the number 1 and 2 teams in the world play each other via highlights??
Maybe he's going to do that game analysing thing another day.
It's not like he be playing one of them in a couple of weeks...
Joking aside he's great player and good luck to him. Looking to make it to ABs/Wales game so I doubly hope it's a doozy.
Posted 14:46 26th October 2012
DaveJ says...
If you can't beat Australia you have no chance against the AB's lads.
Posted 14:42 26th October 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
I hope national coaches everywhere are looking at the All Black attack and are looking to make that step up in work rate and effort to match it.
Posted 09:22 26th October 2012
PREEST says...
I was happy with the way the Aussies stood up in that game. I'm a Kiwi, but I prefer the days when we feared playing the Wallabies. Hopefully that draw is the catalyst for a new dominant and competitive Wallabies side. Can't wait for the Northern Hemisphere tours. Should be some good matches.
Posted 08:48 26th October 2012