North: Career on the up

Ashton has rocketed into the international limelight through a haul of nine tries in just 12 England appearances.

And while Ashton's trademark celebratory swalllow dive has earned him plaudits and criticism in equal measures, his worth to England as a priceless matchwinner cannot be understated.

Scarlets prospect North - at 19, five years Ashton's junior - burst on to the Test match stage last autumn by marking his Wales debut with two tries against world champions South Africa.

The World Cup beckons for both players in New Zealand next month, and each of them are critical to the tournament ambitions of their respective countries.

"I think Chris Ashton has done great in the way he has switched from rugby league to union - he is a great athlete," said North.

"I have watched him and tried to take on board the things he does well. His work-rate and his hunger to get on the shoulder of runners is what impresses me most.

"If you watch him, he is always there in the right place to take an offload."

And should North mark his first Twickenham appearance with a try, could a capacity 82,000 crowd expect a spectacular celebration?

"That's not me," he added. "I am more about just getting the ball down and going again.

"Plus, I am slightly heavier than him, so it would be a bigger collision with the ground! I don't think it would do me any good."

At 6ft 4in tall and just over 17 stone, the Twickenham faithful will struggle to miss North should he start for Wales on Saturday, and there is no doubt he could make a significant World Cup impact.

But North's affable, unassuming nature does not allow him to talk up his billing as a world star in the making.

"This time last year I wanted to pass my exams at Llandovery College and have a good pre-season with the Scarlets," added North, who was born in King's Lynn but moved to Anglesey 17 years ago.

"So if I am lucky enough to go to this World Cup, I just want to put in good performances and cement my place in the squad.

"We are all still learning and I am just enjoying my time. I am trying to take in as much as possible.

"I have obviously never been to a World Cup, and I've spoken to a lot of the older lads about how it works. It has just made me want to go even more."

Wales' opening game of the new season - they meet England in Cardiff next week, and then Argentina before heading to New Zealand - follows two punishing camps at the Olympic sports village in Spala, Poland.

North and company were put through their paces like never before by the Wales coaching staff, with the gruelling schedule including regular trips to a cryotherapy chamber and 6am training sessions.

The human-sized fridges, which can plummet to a temperature of minus 160 degrees centigrade, help aid and speed up players' recovery. Wales flanker Sam Warburton christened them "evil saunas."

"It was pretty horrible really," North said.

"But we didn't go out there for a holiday camp, we went there with the mentality of putting in hard work.

"It was a great experience for me. I was looking forward to going, and although it was hard, it has been beneficial. There were times, though, when I thought 'why the hell am I in Poland?'

"The place we stayed wasn't like the hotel rooms we are used to here, that's for sure. Basically, we just had what we needed. A room with a television the size of a postage stamp.

"But it was good for the boys just to be able to focus on the training rather than anything off the field. I feel as if I am in the best shape of my life.

"There is currently a squad of 45, and we all know only 30 will make it (to the World Cup) and that some are going to be disappointed.

"Boys want to get that last little percentage that is going to get them a seat on the plane."