George North gives Northampton an outside chance of reaching the last eight

Such is the turmoil within Welsh rugby at present that the sight of a Welshman sprinting 75 metres down the touchline to score a wonder try should have been sweet relief.

These days, however, George North is a shooting star for Northampton Saints and his eye-catching, match-turning contribution simply felt like another boot to the nether regions for those attempting to promote a healthy professional game in these parts.

In a perfect world, of course, North would be attempting to repel English invaders and the stadium would be rocking to the beat of successful Welsh sides repeatedly qualifying for Heineken Cup quarter-finals. Instead a muted audience of 8,347 pondered once again what the future will hold if more of their top men depart the country. An Anglo-Welsh league is a hard sell if all the best Welsh players are playing for Premiership clubs.

In good nick
At least the watching Warren Gatland can console himself that the 21-year-old North is in good nick with the Welsh squad for the Six Nations Championship due to be announced tomorrow. Alun Wyn Jones was his normal influential self and Adam Jones made a discernible difference at the set piece when he came on but the Ospreys once again paid the price for not finishing what they started. At least three potential tries went begging in the first hour, allowing Northampton to secure a win which still gives them an outside chance of reaching the last eight.

The Saints’ failure to secure a try bonus point allied to Leinster’s win in Castres means they can progress only should they enjoy a five-point win over Castres on Friday night while Leinster self-destruct at home to the Ospreys. Realistically that is not going to happen, with a place in the latter stages of the Amlin Challenge Cup a more probable outcome.

It also remains to be seen how swiftly their England flanker Tom Wood recovers from the sore leg which saw him limp off in the closing stages. Jim Mallinder, the director of rugby, said the player had suffered a knock to his left knee but Wood has had more than his fair share of foot problems and looked in some discomfort as he left the field. “I don’t know (how bad it is) but I’m hopeful,” said Mallinder. England are due to meet next Monday for a training week before their opening Six Nations fixture against France in Paris on February 1st.

How the England coach, Stuart Lancaster, would love to be able to call on the Norfolk-born North. The big winger did owe a debt to Kahn Fotuali'i, who spotted space down the short side following a turnover shortly after half-time, but once the ball was shipped wide he needed no second invitation. Both Tom Isaacs and Jeff Hassler were left sprawling in the mud as he set off, Forrest Gump-style, for the distant left corner, for a touchdown which put the Saints 17-3 in front and effectively ended the contest.

Tongue-in-cheek
Afterwards North expressed a tongue-in-cheek wish that Gatland had been watching - "Hopefully he saw it and wasn't in the toilet" – and added a little further salt by suggesting "it was nice to put one over the Ospreys having been a Scarlet". Regardless of his old regional loyalties, it is obvious he is starting to enjoy life in the East Midlands.
Guardian Service