George North has been dealing with pressure ever since he announced his Wales presence with a try double on his debut against South Africa in 2010. Ten years on he will edge closer to joining that elite 100 Club when he wins his 96th cap in Saturday night’s clash against France in Paris.

George North has apologised to his Ospreys teammates after the red card that undermined the region’s chance of victory in their first match for five months. The Wales wing held up his hands after being dismissed just 14 minutes into Sunday’s Guinness Pro 14 clash at home to the Dragons, which ended in a 20-20 draw. It was the first red card of North’s 10-year professional career and it came after the 29-year-old, playing in his 254th professional game for club and country, sent opposite number Ashton Hewitt into a tail-spin as he clattered into him at a kick-off at the Liberty Stadium.

George North has ruled the roost as a Wales wing for a decade. But the fact that his place is now under severe threat suggests to Peter Jackson that an era could be coming to a close. The question, unthinkable for so many years, has been left hanging over the Six Nations since Storm Ciara blew herself out: Is George North still worth his place? Even his smartest advocate would have been hard pushed to avoid a negative response based on his contribution in Dublin or, to be more pointed out, lack of it.

Now that Wayne Pivac has his feet under the table – only for the table to be upturned by Ireland -Robin Davey argues it is time for the Wales coach to make some changes. That should mean, he says, a call for teenage wing Louis Rees-Zammit. Welcome to the Wales job, Wayne Pivac! After a welcome easy ride first time out in the Six Nations against chopping blocks Italy, reality kicked for the Wales coach against Ireland.

Wales coach Wayne Pivac has admitted Nick Tompkins’ impact has elbowed wing Johnny McNicholl out of the team to face Ireland. Saracens centre Tompkins will make his first Test start in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash in Dublin. Tompkins, who delivered a try-scoring debut off the bench when Wales beat Italy 42-0 five days ago, partners Hadleigh Parkes in midfield.

George North can write a new chapter in his distinguished career for Wales – maybe even half a book – after being picked to play at centre for Wales. He may have won 91 caps, but the Lions and Ospreys wing is still only 27 years old and could conceivably play international rugby for at least another five years. How many of what could be potentially be another 50 or 60 caps will be earned with a number 13 on his back may well hinge on what happens against Italy on Saturday – as well as the long term fitness of the injured Jonathan Davies.

Stephen Jones believes Wales have some “good options” in midfield ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy. Wales have lost Scarlets star Jonathan Davies from their entire Six Nations campaign after he suffered a knee injury during the World Cup. That leaves wing George North and uncapped Saracens back Nick Tompkins among options available to new head coach Wayne Pivac.

Fancy the Ospreys to actually win a game when they cost Saracens in the European Champions Cup on Saturday afternoon? No? Well, you’re probably not alone. But Peter Jackson has a reminder that history often shapes the most unpredictable outcomes. Saracens will look at the dishevelled state of their next European opponent and suspect that the usual New Year ambush awaits them in bandit country. No Champions Cup mission to Ospreys would be the same without one, at least not for the holders.

Dean Ryan reckons the Dragons have unearthed a new “superstar” in wing Rio Dyer after their derby victory over the Ospreys. Adam Warren’s late try sealed a remarkable 25-18 Guinness PRO14 win at Rodney Parade, but was Dyer – a youngster first thrust forward as an 18-year-old by former coach Bernard Jackman – who caught the eye. Head coach Ryan saw his team led 10-8 at half-time after prop Leon Brown responded to a try by his Wales team-mate George North.

As the Welsh regions prepare for the second round of European competition, the true toll of supporting the national cause is becoming clear. Peter Jackson argues that Wales’ Test match schedule – which included a massive 20 Tests in the past year – undermines any hope of the regions being competitive. Sir Gareth Edwards never missed a match for Wales and yet it still took him more than 11 years to compile his unbroken sequence of 53 Tests. They came at the rate of five-a-year because that was how it used to be back then, a time when those running the sport preserved the magnetic appeal of international competition by restricting fixtures to a minimum.

Wayne Pivac’s first Wales squad included five uncapped players, two of whom – Johnny McNicholl and Willis Halaholo – have become available on residency qualification. Peter Jackson believes McNicholl has the pedigree to be a major success at international level – and offers a major selection threat to George North. Five years ago, Johnny McNicholl found himself surrounded by so many All Blacks that it must have seemed a mere matter of time before he became one himself. A substitute wing for the Crusaders at the 2014 Super Rugby final, he belonged to a squad studded with no fewer than 15 current or future New Zealand Test players, 12 in the starting XV, three more on the bench.

Leigh Halfpenny insists Wales now have momentum in their favour as they head towards the World Cup. The Wales full-back helped Wales reach the summit of rugby union’s world rankings just hours after a punishing training session in an altitude room. Halfpenny returned to Test rugby in Wales’ 13-6 World Cup warm-up victory over England at the Principality Stadium.