World Cup: Adaptable North happy to switch from his usual role

There would appear to be an increasing possibility of juggernaut wing North being moved into midfield for critical appointments with Fiji on Thursday and then Australia nine days later.

Wales had already lost centres Jonathan Davies and Cory Allen from their plans, and now Scarlets midfielder Scott Williams is among the latest major fitness concerns after suffering a knee injury during Saturday’s 28-25 victory over England.

The extent of Williams’s injury has not yet been confirmed, but if he is sidelined long-term, it might mean Wales boss Warren Gatland switching North to outside centre as Jamie Roberts’s midfield partner.

“If need be, I will play centre or wing – but not front row!” said North, who has scored 23 tries in 52 Tests for Wales.

“That is the World Cup – you have to adapt and learn roles. Centre is not one I am unusual with, and it may have to be.”

Wales have collected nine points from a possible 10 in Pool A despite injuries providing one setback after another, and North has underlined the squad’s determination to remain firmly on a quarter-final course.

“We have injuries, but we have to make sure we are right for Fiji, and, after them, Australia,” North added. “Then we will reassess, gather our thoughts and focus again.

“It is never nice seeing your mates go down, but from No 1 to 31 in the squad we have always been there together.

“You see one man go down and you think he has come this far, it is not fair that he cannot go an extra bit, so we may as well dig in for him.

“He has been there as long as you have and done just as much work. It’s one in, all in.”