North-Folau set for Test opener collision course

It is a match-up even Warren Gatland would pay to watch but as far as the Australians are concerned, taking George North out of the equation would not dampen the excitement generating around Wallabies Test debutant Israel Folau.

North and Folau go head to head in tomorrow’s first Test at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium in a battle of wingers big on confidence, big on talent and, well, just plain big. Both possess that immeasurable X-factor but while North has been on our radars since his breathtaking Test debut for Wales as a teenager against South Africa in 2010, Folau has yet to even complete a full season in rugby union.

While the 24-year-old Australian will become the 867th Wallaby when he takes his Test bow against the Lions, he too made his international sporting debut as an 18-year-old, in rugby league. Not only did that beat North in terms of youthfulness by 20 days, running out in a rugby league game aged 18 and 194 days made him the youngest Aussie to do so.