Wales (Rugby League)

George North—aptly nicknamed the “Man Child” of the Wales national rugby team—not only carries his nation’s hopes of success on his shoulders in the Rugby World Cup, but also his own need for redemption. And it is that personal mission that will allow Wales to be victorious.

At just 23 years, the winger has already emerged as one of the most talented players in the modern game of rugby even before he earned two Six Nations titles.

Named to the Wales squad for the 2010 November Internationals, North holds an extraordinary record-breaking resume for such a young player. According to ESPN Scrum’s Huw Richards, North—age 18—became the youngest player ever to score a try in his debut for Wales; have scored two tries in his debut and have scored two tries against a major rugby nation. He also remains the first person to have scored two tries while making his debut against South Africa.

Then, at age 19, he became the youngest ever try scorer at a Rugby World Cup competition and to score 10 international tries, Telegraph’s James Corrigan reported. His contributions to major teams have been historic: ESPN Scrum notes that his outstanding tries while playing for the Lions in 2013 not only stand out as some of the best in the team’s history, but they even led to a pivotal final test victory over the Wallabies, the Lions’ first series win since 1997.

North—Wales’ prized prodigy and the special weapon they’ve tried to protect from the spotlight for five years—is destructive, there is no doubt about it.

The Daily Mail’s Nik Simon explained, “With a 40 metre time of 4.96sec—just 0.32sec slower than Usain Bolt—and the strength to squat while carrying 496lb on his shoulders,” North has been compared to the All Blacks’ infamous Jonah Lomu “before [he] had even pulled on a Wales jersey.”

Having already impressed the international rugby world at such a young age, North will no doubt surpass the accomplishments of even Lomu.

North has earned over 50 caps. 

Yet, despite his record-breaking resume, the young star still plays like he needs to prove himself in an international arena.

“Over the last 12 months, he probably hasn’t played as well as we would have liked and he’s aware of that,” Welsh coach Warren Gatland told the Daily Mail. 

In fact, North’s career has been an ongoing series of head injuries. He suffered three concussions in the last four months, according to the Daily Mail, and thus has been left off the roster for most of Wales’ matches in 2015. 

What’s worse: Specialists told Simon that another serious injury could potentially end his career. 

North’s fight to take back control during the Rugby World Cup has no doubt worked in favor of the Welsh team. Though he did not participate in the team’s 54-9 defeat of Uruguay in their opener, he returned to the pitch for their contest against England. According to Simon, there were many doubts from critics and spectators whether North would even return to play at the World Cup to compete against England and Australia.

There is no doubt that the Wales vs. England match was North’s easing back into the international scene rather than a stunning show of his brilliance; it’s unquestionable that outside-half Dan Biggar held the spotlight as the man of the match. However, we were reminded of North’s importance to the Welsh team in the final 10 minutes of the game, after England’s Sam Burgess came off the pitch. In those crucial final minutes of regulation, North was relocated to the center, creating great danger for the English squad. Yet, without Burgess’ defensive security, England fell apart.

Wales’ 28-25 defeat of England saw the them rise to second in world rankings, their highest position yet, according to Rugby World. Meanwhile, England dropped down to sixth.

North regained his stride in Wales’ match against Fiji, in which he made impressive line breaks and runs from the very beginning of the test, putting much pressure on the Fijians. Though it was a stern challenge, Wales yet again came out on top.

Wales and Australia have both qualified for the World Cup quarter-finals, and the winner of the game at Twickenham will top their group.

Wales currently holds a 10-match losing streak against Australia—an unfortunate pattern the team must break in order to win Pool A of the Rugby World Cup. Gatland, however, does not feel that such a feat is impossible.

"A lot of people have written us off, and we have demonstrated that character when we are under pressure," he told the BBC.

Whereas the Welsh team has had time to adjust to injuries of various key players, such as centers Jonathan Davies and Cory Allen and now midfielder Scott Williams, the Wallabies have suddenly been hit with team blows. Today the BBC reported that Australia flanker Michael Hooper has been suspended for one week due to a physical violation in the Wallabies’ match against England, thus removing him from the Wales game lineup.

Luckily for North, the BBC also reported that Australia full-back Israel Folau could miss Saturday's Pool A decider with Wales at Twickenham due to an ankle injury he suffered in the 66th minute of the Wallabie’s 33-13 win over England last weekend. The full-back has a history as North’s rival—no one can forget when the Welshman effortlessly threw Folau onto his shoulder during the second Test of the 2013 Lions tour, the highlight of the series. In the case of Folau’s injury, Australia’s loss is most definitely North’s—and thus, Wales’—gain.

Yet, North’s greatest contribution to the Welsh team will be his resilience and flexibility. With the growing injuries on the team, the possibility of the veritable giant moving into the midfield is increasing.

“If need be, I will play center or wing, nor front row!” North told the Press Association (h/t ESPN). “That is the World Cup—you have to adapt and learn roles. Center is not one I am unusual with, and it may have to be … From number one to 31 in the squad we have always been there together.”

North has faced Australia 10 times, of which Wales was only victorious in two.

The result of the match between Wales and Australia will determine which side tops the group. While either Scotland or Japan are likely to be the opponents for whichever side wins Group A, the runners-up will most likely face South Africa from Pool B in the quarter-finals.

North has the stats and the skills to pull Wales ahead, there’s no questioning that; you don’t break multiple records on mere luck. But it’s this sense of irrepressible determination, this all-in mentality, that will truly make North a legend on the Rugby World Cup pitch. Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards emphasized to the Press Association that resilience was a key factor in the team’s triumph over England, and North himself projects that very quality.

Carrying both his personal and Welsh pride, North bears a heavy weight on his shoulder going into the match against Australia on Saturday. Perhaps more than any of his teammates, North needs to continue on in the tournament to prove his worth and his relevance to the future of rugby more than just the pride of a World Cup victory.

Having two games to pick up his stride behind him, the winger will no doubt step onto the pitch ready to show the world that he still has the exemplary talents that gave him the reputation as one of the greatest rugby players alive.

Kaitlin McCabe is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report's Advanced Program in Sports Media. Follow her on Twitter @kam3194.