Nick Cain: Let George go, Saints, or risk his goodwill

George North is box office, and although he had to wait until last Friday night for his first try for Northampton since moving to Franklin’s Gardens over the summer, he has made an impressive start.
The try he scored against Sale was donated to him by Jamie Elliott’s generous offload when he could have easily scored himself. Perhaps the selfless gesture to his fellow wing was prompted by the brilliant run by the strapping Welshman which created the wonder try finished off by Elliott at Kingsholm the previous weekend.
Irrespective, Jim Mallinder must be delighted with the way North has settled in and brought his gifts to bear for Northampton in the first month of the season – foremost among them extraordinary elusiveness and nimble footwork for such a big man.
That’s why it is puzzling that this week the Saints director of rugby initiated what could become a tug-of-war between Wales and Northampton for North’s services.
Asked about North’s availability for the last of Wales four autumn Tests, against Australia, which falls outside the IRB’s official international window, this was Mallinder’s response.
“It would be our choice. We will decide what’s best for him…the club and George will have that discussion and do what’s best for us both.”
That smacks of the no-choice option a dad taking his kids into a Chinese takeaway might offer:  “What rice you want?” They shout “Egg fried rice!” while he orders plain.
North is a Grand Slam Wales wing, a prodigious young player who has made such spectacular headway in large part because of Warren Gatland‘s ability to talent spot. His 2013 Lions fame is a direct product of that, as is Northampton’s desire to sign him.
North, who became the first teenager in Test history to score ten tries was capped 21 times by Wales before his twentieth birthday – and now, at 21, he has 31 caps for his country, and three Lions Test caps, including two tries, in a winning series.
It is inevitable that he will want to play for his country against Australia at the Millennium Stadium on November 30, even though Northampton’s away Premiership assignment against Worcester falls on the same day.
That is not disloyalty to Northampton, it is simply a desire to play for his country on Rugby Union‘s biggest stage, which is still the international arena. Would Mallinder, when he was in his pomp as a full-back, have passed up another England cap, at Twickenham, to play for Sale?
It would be surprising if North’s agent had not negotiated a release clause with the Saints that allowed the wing to play in the only Wales home game that falls outside the IRB window.
What it probably comes down to is dosh. Northampton are well compensated by England for international player release, and they probably expect Wales to fork out some compensation money if they want North for an extra curricular match.
However, to jeopardise the goodwill of the player – who has the reputation of being a model pro – and of Wales coach Gatland, seems like unnecessary brinkmanship at this juncture.
Much better to give North a free pass this time, and then negotiate with the WRU regarding any future compensation for releasing him to Wales outside the agreed IRB periods in the build-up to the 2015 World Cup.