George North has been told he needs to show Ireland his claws on Friday night or else he will miss out on another Lions tour.
The warning comes from former Lions and Ireland prop Paul Wallace who reckons the Wales wing must summon something special when he goes head-to-head with Ireland’s Simon Zebo in Cardiff on Friday night.
Wallace said: “We all know the potential George North has, but he needs to up the ante.
“The last couple of rounds of the Six Nations are probably the most important in terms of selection.
“Wales are suffering in a rebuilding phase, but if North puts in a massive performance then it might just be enough to swing him a Lions place.”
North was given the runaround in defence by Scotland and faces a fight for his starting place with Scarlets wing Steff Evans pressing hard.
Wallace added: “George is big and powerful and in the first Test for Wales against New Zealand last summer he was excellent. But now he needs to put his hand up again.”
But despite Wales’ troubles so far in this season’s Six Nations – and the prospect of a third successive defeat – Wallace believes Alun Wyn Jones is doing enough to prove he should lead the trip to New Zealand this summer.
“Alun Wyn Jones is still favourite for the Lions captaincy,” said Wallace.
“Warren Gatland will know Alun Wyn Jones’s personality and what he is capable of as a leader.
“Wales are having a tough campaign, but I thought Jones was outstanding in a playing sense during the November Tests.
“Dylan Hartley hasn’t really come to the fore and Rory Best will probably feel he needs to do a bit more.
“I’m not saying it is a done deal, because things can change in the final two weeks of a Six Nations. But at this point Jones is probably the one who is just ahead.
“Ireland have recovered well from their defeat to Scotland in the opening round of games,” said Wallace.
“They are in form and key players like Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Sean O’Brien are playing well.
“But they will know that Wales will be up for this game.
“Mentally, players are asked to go to the well so often these days for their regions, provinces, clubs and national teams. But it isn’t easy to summon that extra five percent on demand. Wales were able to do it for the match with England but it didn’t seem there for the game in Murrayfield.
“My guess is that chip on the shoulder will be back for the match with Ireland, particularly after the criticism individuals and the team have had since the weekend.
“Anyone who is expecting a huge opening salvo from the Welsh on Friday week probably won’t be far wrong.
“It is not an easy game to predict, but with Sexton there Ireland maybe have a bit more savvy and creativity. They can open up but they can also play cup-final rugby.
“But they will know the challenge ahead of them. People are talking about the England game in Dublin on the final weekend of the championship, but Ireland will not underestimate how tough it will be in Cardiff.”
Wallace believes Wales are not far from getting it right but acknowledges they are a team in transition.
“They are in a rebuilding phase,” he said.
“Some experienced players have left the picture in recent years, like Adam Jones and Richard Hibbard in the front row, while Gethin Jenkins isn’t getting any younger.
“Have they missed Jenkins in this Six Nations?
“I would say they have, because his tackling and work-rate generally are huge, while every side needs leaders and he has long been one for Wales.
“They have four good young props, but none of them looks a Lions Test player at this stage.
“Little things, such as Taulupe Faletau not playing much rugby throughout the season and individual players having defensive lapses, seem to have worked against this Welsh side.
“But they will know what Ireland are about through facing their players in the Pro12, and the same applies the other way of course.”
