George North believes the enormity of Wales’ comeback against France hints at their capability for the rest of the Six Nations. The Ospreys wing scored two tries in Paris as Wales recovered from 16-0 down to win 24-19 – the biggest turnaround of any match in the tournament’s history. North insisted: “The team effort in the second half showed where we can go.

Warren Gatland plans to make significant changes to the Wales team to face Italy, having seen his team recover from a wretched start to beat France in their Six Nations opener on Friday night. But the shake-up will not be a reaction to a limp first-half display at the Stade de France, where they trailed 16-0 at the break, before an unprecedented tournament comeback saw them triumph 24-19. Instead, Gatland wants to use the fixture against Italy to test his squad’s depth – just as he did last year – before the World Cup.

Allen Clarke insisted his Ospreys team had dominated the Cardiff Blues as they ended their rivals’ hopes of a derby clean sweep. The Ospreys coach saw his team win 20-11 at the Liberty Stadium – a venue where the Blues have now not won for 14 years – to leave the Blues five points adrift of their opponents in the Guinness Pro14 Conference A table. It brought the Blues’ resurgence to an abrupt halt after their victories over the Scarlets and the Dragons with Clarke claiming it was a reflection of the home team’s control.

World Rugby vice-chairman Gus Pichot stirred the pot  during last month’s autumn series by suggesting that countries other than Argentina were chock full of players born outside their borders. As many of those players prepare to battle in Europe this weekend, Peter Jackson believes Pichot picked a fair fight – but armed himself with the wrong facts. Once upon a time, long ago, when players could switch allegiance almost as easily as clubs, a Welshman from a famous academy in the Rhymney Valley turned out for England. Derek Morgan, born in Newport, blazed a trail from Lewis School in Pengam to the international arena, lighting the way for those among the more distinguished alumni who came after him like John Dawes, Neil Kinnock and the Falklands War veteran Simon Weston.

Wales have made three changes to their starting XV to face Australia in Cardiff on Saturday. Tomas Francis, Adam Beard and Josh Adams all come into the starting XV from the side that beat Scotland in Wales’ opening Under Armour Series clash.

Warren Gatland believes Wales can end their 10-year losing streak against Australia next week – but insists the more important meeting will be at the World Cup. The Wales coach says his side will improve even further when they face the Wallabies in Cardiff next Saturday after launching their November campaign with a 21-10 victory at home to Scotland. Tries from George North and Jonathan Davies plus 11 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny saw Wales win the inaugural Doddie Weir Cup at the Principality Stadium.

You simply can’t keep Nigel Owens out of the headlines when he’s got a whistle in his hands, and the game is all the better for it. Even World Rugby CEO Brett Gosper was moved to commend the world’s most senior and famous match official for his actions in Paris at the weekend for protecting the values of the game when he asked Racing 92 full back Simon Zebo to apologise to his young Ulster opposite number, Michael Lowry, for taunting him as he ran past him to score.

After six years spent going backwards, the Ospreys need a lift and George North could be just the man to provide it. Graham Thomas looks at the player and his new region as both seek a fresh start by winding back the clock. If one man’s personal circumstance could signify the wider challenge for the Ospreys this season, then it would be George North. Like the region itself, their new marquee signing has had a scratchy couple of years, judged by the standards of previous glories. Both player and team are seeking some kind of redemption.

George North and his fellow Ospreys new boys have been told to hit the ground running when the new Guinness Pro14 season starts. The demand has been made by head coach Allen Clarke – preparing for his first full season in charge by attempting to blend a new-look team quickly into the groove. North will make his Ospreys debut against English champions Saracens in London on Thursday.

While the WRU are urging players to come home to Wales to maintain their international careers, the same policy is not being followed when it comes to coaches. Robin Davey, in his latest column for Dai Sport, questions why home-grown coaching talent is being frozen out. The Welsh Rugby Union and the Wales management are doing everything they can to encourage exiled players like George North to return to Wales, yet they appear to be scouring the earth for the next national coach.

Warren Gatland wants a clean sweep of victories on Wales’ summer tour after watching his young side seal a hugely impressive 23-10 win over Argentina in San Juan. At the Estadio del Bicenternario, first-half tries from man of the match James Davies and George North laid the platform for Wales’ success as fly-half Rhys Patchell kicked 10 points. Against an experienced Argentina side – whose match day squad was entirely made up of players from Super Rugby outfit Jaguares – Wales’ young pack stood up impressively.

Cory Hill has been told he has a chance to stamp his leadership on Wales this weekend when he captains the tourists against Argentina. Wales coach Warren Gatland has made Hill his skipper for the first Test versus the Pumas in San Juan on Saturday. Wales’ other co-captain for the tour – Ellis Jenkins – led Wales to victory over South Africa in Washington last week, so this will be an opportunity for Hill to show he should keep the job for the second and final Test next weekend.