George North will make his 50th international appearance in record time against France in the Six Nations on Saturday, looking to continue his purple patch against Les Bleus.
At just 22-years-old, North will become the youngest international player ever to reach the milestone -- it will be his 47th cap for Wales, added to three for the British and Irish Lions.
The towering Northampton wing scored tries against France in each of the last two years and will be looking to continue that form as Wales seek a fourth straight win over Philippe Saint-Andre's side.
North will make his comeback for Wales having sat out the 26-23 win in Scotland two weeks ago due to a pair of concussions suffered against England the week before.
"He is an exceptional player," Wales assistant coach Rob Howley said.
"George scored the last time we were out there in 2013 and last year in Cardiff when they messed up at the back in defence. So he has a pretty good try-scoring record, and hopefully it will continue on the weekend.
"It is a phenomenal record (50 Tests).
"If you think when we gave George his first cap back in 2010 against South Africa when he was just 18, and you look back at that performance at such a young age, he showed a maturity on the wing and the number of touches he had, scoring two great tries.
"That's the question we want to keep asking of George."
It will be almost like a home away from home match for Wales with five of the starting line-up on Saturday playing their club rugby in France.
Leigh Halfpenny is at European champions Toulon, Jonathan Davies plays for Clermont while Jamie Roberts, Mike Phillips and Luke Charteris all ply their trade with Racing-Metro in Paris.
Dan Lydiate, who will start at blindside flanker, also spent 18 months at Racing before returning home a couple of months ago.
"It is obviously a very useful tool to have when players are able to give you an insight," Howley added.
- doping disruption -
France's preparations have been disrupted by renewed claims about systematic doping in the sport in the 1980s.
Centre Remi Lamerat, who has been drafted into the midfield in place of the barrel-chested Mathieu Bastareaud, says the negative atmosphere surrounding the team is something they are used to, with criticism about their style of play particularly prevalent recently.
"Of course it affects us because we'd like everything to be great and perfect," said the Castres back ahead of the match at the Stade de France.
"The criticisms about our style of play are quite fair but we don't come out too badly these days in comparison to the Irish and Welsh.
"I don't really enjoy watching Wales, they have a very direct style and don't play many passes.
"But it's very French to criticise the national team, although sometimes I do understand the criticisms and people's frustrations."
This is a must-win clash for both sides if they are to harbour hopes of winning the Six Nations.
Both have beaten Scotland but already lost once -- Wales to England (21-16) and France against Ireland (18-11).
With England unbeaten ahead of their Sunday trip to Dublin to face the reigning champions, a second defeat would be all but fatal to either the Welsh or France's title chances.
Wales have won the last three, including a 16-6 victory in Paris two years ago, since losing the 2011 World Cup semi-final to Les Bleus.
North, who takes over from Alex Cuthbert, is one of four changes for the Welsh with hooker Scott Baldwin replacing Richard Hibbard and prop Samson Lee returning to the team following his concussion. Charteris also comes in.
Apart from Lamerat, France have made another four changes, three of them enforced due to injuries and Pascal Pape's suspension.
Sofiane Guitoune (wing), Romain Taofifenua (lock), Morgan Parra (scrum-half) and Brice Dulin (full-back) have all been picked.
Source: AFP
