Wales v South Africa, Millennium Stadium, November 13
Teenager North gets Wales call
ESPNscrum Staff
November 11, 2010
Scarlets wing George North, Scarlets v Leeds, Anglo-Welsh Cup, Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli, Wales, November 6, 2010
George North starts for Wales © Getty Images
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Wales coach Warren Gatland has handed a Test debut to teenage Scarlets wing George North as one of four changes to his side to face South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The 18-year-old is joined in the back-three by a fit again Lee Byrne and replaces Dragons wing Will Harries, while James Hook shifts from fullback to inside-centre in place of Ospreys team-mate Andrew Bishop.

"We know this is a bold selection, but we have always tried to look at the bigger picture and George, is the bigger picture and at 6ft 4 inches and 16stone 7lbs he gives us quite a canvas to work with," Gatland said.

"There is no pressure on him, he just needs to go out and enjoy the experience of winning his first cap. With Lee Byrne back at fullback and James Hook hopefully with the ball in his hands more often at centre we have plenty of experience and guile around in our back line and are simply looking for the same again up front."

British & Irish Lions Stephen Jones and Mike Phillips have survived calls for change at halfback, with Cardiff Blues scrum-half Richie Rees again named on the bench, and veteran Blues flanker Martyn Williams replaces the injured Sam Warburton at openside.

There are two notable returns among the replacements as Ryan Jones and Andy Powell enter the fray. Jones will cover the second-row after recovering from injury while Wasps No.8 Powell is set to make his first Test appearance since being jettisoned during the Six Nations due to his infamous golf buggy episode.

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); G North (Scarlets), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys) S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), M Phillips (Ospreys); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), A Jones (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys).

Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), P James (Ospreys), R Jones (Ospreys), A Powell (Wasps), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), C Czekaj (Cardiff Blues)

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