Only two men have scored more Guinness Six Nations tries than George North and the Wales back is now just four away from matching Brian O’Driscoll’s Championship record.
O’Driscoll set the standard with an incredible 26 scores during his illustrious career but North looks destined to surpass that total if he can stay fit.
The 28-year-old has been shifted from the wing to outside centre under head coach Wayne Pivac and it seems to have given him a new lease of life.
In the 2021 Championship, North dotted down twice to take his personal tally to 22 tries and move level with fellow Wales legend Shane Williams.
Scotland’s Ian Smith, who scored tries for fun nearly 100 years ago, has 24 and is next on North’s hitlist when the 2022 Championship swings around next spring.
North’s first try came in Wales’ very first game of the 2021 Championship, as he helped to steer them to a 21-16 win against Ireland in Cardiff.
Ireland led 13-6 at the break but North’s scintillating try ten minutes into the second half turned the tide back in Wales’s favour.
The centre dummied his way through the defensive line, cut inside a spun-around James Lowe and outpaced Tadhg Beirne to stretch out for the try.
He then scored again against Italy in Round 4 – his 11th against the Azzurri in 11 Championship matches – by sprinting clear following a Jonathan Davies offload.
North is not the only man making a move up the record charts. Scotland’s Stuart Hogg moved into joint-sixth overall, with two tries against Wales taking his personal tally to 15 scores.
And one behind him is Ireland winger Keith Earls, who joined Jonny May, Jason Robinson, George Stephenson, Tommy Bowe and Serge Blanco on 14 tries.
