Wales 25 South Africa 29:WHILE WALES failed again to put away any of the big names from the Southern Hemisphere, they at least discovered a new star. The giant 18-year-old wing George North signalled his arrival in Test rugby with two tries against the world champions.
No less an authority than Bryan Habana said the Scarlet, who is only six months out of school and has only half a dozen senior games behind him, was on his way to becoming a “Wales great”. A year ago, North was playing in front of parents and teachers at Llandovery College.
Five minutes after kick-off on Saturday he had the Millennium Stadium crowd on their feet and cheering as he dashed over the line for his first try. Fifty-two minutes later, the youngest of the 200 Llanelli Scarlets who have represented Wales scored a second after he was picked out with a cross-field kick by a club-mate, Stephen Jones.
He also showed solid defence under the high ball and went on a 30-yard dash which allowed Shane Williams to put James Hook over under the posts.
Habana had seen enough to suggest North will be even more of a handful when Wales meet the Springboks in their World Cup group in Wellington in September.
“Age is nothing but a number,” said Habana, the Springbok wing who knows about scoring early on a Test debut. “He was Wales’ standout player. He made a huge difference in both attack and defence, was well worth the two tries and he’s going to go from strength to strength. After the game I told him what fantastic ability he had. Wales have found a gem.”
North admitted he had been surprised when Stephen Jones called the fifth-minute move which sent the 17st, 6ft 4in wing under the Springbok posts.
“I just did my job, coming around the corner,” he said. “It all opened up for me and I thought, ‘I’m in here’.”
But the time of his second try Wales were playing catch-up. The Springboks, who had been 11 points down two minutes into the second half, had raised their game. In three minutes they clawed back 14 points, the replacement flanker Willem Alberts trundling over before Victor Matfield, celebrated his record 103rd cap by spotting a gap in an overstretched defence. Not for nothing are the Springboks world champions.
Guardian Service
WALES: Byrne; North, Shanklin, Hook, S Williams; S Jones, Phillips; James, M Rees, A Jones, A Jones, Davies, Powell, M Williams, Thomas. Replacements: Bishop for Shanklin (39), Czekaj for S Williams (40), D Jones for Powell (60), Bennett for M Rees (72), R Jones for Davies (74). Not Used: Yapp, R Rees.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aplon; Basson, F Steyn, de Villiers, Habana; M Steyn, Pienaar; Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, Botha, Matfield, Stegmann, Smith, Spies. Replacements: Alberts for Stegmann (46), Kirchner for Pienaar, van der Merwe for Botha (both 60), Lambie for M Steyn (67), Ralepelle for B du Plessis (73), van der Linde for J du Plessis (75). Not used: Hougaard.
Referee: Steve Walsh(New Zealand).
