The China Mail - North hits Welsh milestone in World Cup quarter against Argentina

It will be North's 118th Test cap, an incredible testament to a player who made his debut as a fresh-faced teenager on the wing.

In that match against South Africa in November 2010, the 18-year-old North rose to the occasion, scoring two tries in a narrow defeat. He went on to appear for Wales in the 2011, 2015 and 2019 World Cups.

North, now 31, has reinvented himself as an outside centre in a Wales team rejuvenated under a second spell with Warren Gatland as head coach.

"We have moved him to the midfield and he is a hell of a lot slower now than he used to be ... just joking, he's not slow!" Gatland joshed ahead of Wales' last-eight showdown with Los Pumas.

"He has done exceptionally well moving," he said, highlighting "what he was like as a youngster on the wing, the power and pace he had.

"He's one of the leaders within the group and he is a big contributor, not just on the field but definitely off the field.

"It's a fantastic accolade for him to have gone through some of the trials he has had in terms of injuries and some concussions. At the moment he is starting to play some really good rugby."

- Leader, not follower -

North said he had not tired of being involved with the Wales set-up, notably at the World Cup.

He admitted to being "now a bit more of a leader rather than a follower. When I was 18 it was more of a case of enjoying everything that came with it and every second of the rugby.

"It was the first experience and now obviously, a few moons have passed but I'm still loving the fact we are here, we are fighting."

North, who scored a memorable long-range try for the British and Irish Lions in their series win over Australia in 2013, has also thrived in a settled midfield combination with in-form centre Nick Tompkins.

"We know how many combinations that have been there in the last few years," bemoaned Gatland.

The synchronicity of the current North-Tompkins axis, the Kiwi coach added, "has helped the progress the team has made from an attacking perspective".

"It has made it easier on the back three and the guys outside them as well."

- Pointy end of stick -

Star winger Louis Rees-Zammit was in no doubt over the positives of the centre partnership.

"It's great because it means I can get the ball more!" he said.

"You saw in the last 20 minutes against Georgia I got a lot more of the ball. Nick and George were trying to call for it a lot more and play a bit more of an expansive game."

Tompkins hailed North's "pretty special career", saying four World Cup quarter-final appearances was an "unbelievable achievement" given each one is years in the undertaking.

"For him to do it four times is pretty impressive. I am not sure I'd be able to do that. It speaks for the determination and kind of bloke he is. It speaks volumes of him," the Saracens player said.

"He's come back and he's on the best form he's been on for a long, long time. It's a privilege to be alongside him while he's achieving that."

Despite the personal milestone, North remained focused on the bigger picture going into the game against Argentina.

"We've been very fortunate that we've been in some big games for Wales over the years... The focus has always been on do your job, do what you do well and bring it to the game," he said.

"This is the pointy end of the stick now. Whether you win by one or 100 points, you have just got to get that result. We have to make sure we play well and put our best foot forward."

T.Wu--ThChM