Saints star North starts for Wales in Six Nations opener

George North will start for Wales on Sunday (picture: Kirsty Edmonds)

North heads into the game on the back of his best club performance of the campaign, having scored Saints’ bonus-point try in the Champions Cup win over Scarlets on January 23.

The 23-year-old has scored three tries for Northampton during the current campaign, with efforts at London Irish and Leicester Tigers preceding his Scarlets score.

And he will now hope to spearhead the Wales charge as Warren Gatland’s men look to get off to a winning start in Dublin.

Wales team to play Ireland: Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), George North ( Saints), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont), Jamie Roberts (Harlequins), Tom James (Cardiff Blues), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Racing 92), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues).