Wales eye history after clawing to France victory

Warren Gatland’s side trailed by 16 points at the break before triumphing 24-19 at the Stade de France on Friday — the biggest score turnaround in the tournament’s 100 and more years in all its different forms.

Winger North, who scored twice in the French capital, believes it leaves the world number three side in a good place before they face Italy in their second fixture in the competition in Rome on Saturday.

“We don’t ever want to put ourselves in that position again but to come back was certainly a positive for us,” the 26-year-old said.

“To come out to Paris on a Friday night to win is a great statement for us and puts us in a good position,” he added.

Hooker Ken Owens said Wales had developed a winning mentality after they secured their seventh victory in eight matches over Les Bleus since the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

“It shows character. There’s plenty of experience in this side. Winning becomes a habit, you find a way to win and we’re on a pretty decent run on the moment,” he said.

– ‘Tidy up’ –

Warren Gatland’s 31-man squad will travel to the south of France to train before facing the Azzurri in the Italian capital in an attempt to replicate short turnarounds between matches at the World Cup in Japan later this year.

North admits there is plenty of improvements to be made during the week on the Mediterranean coast.

“We have a good block now in Nice before going out to Rome and we just need to make sure we tidy up,” the Ospreys three-quarter said.

“We go to Rome needing to work on a lot of things and standards from within,” he added.

Success at the Stadio Olimpico next weekend would equal a Welsh record of 11 straight wins, a run only ever achieved before during the first decade of the 20th century.

Wales’ last defeat came away to Ireland in February last year.

Owens, a 61-time international, is plotting their assault on the Italian capital with the idea of writing their names in Welsh rugby folklore firmly in mind.

“Records are always there to be broken. There have been some quality Welsh sides over the years and we’re 10 on the bounce going back to 1907,” the 32-year-old said.

“As a team it is a great achievement to hopefully equal and pass the record.

“We just want to win rugby matches and the records keep tumbling. Hopefully we can put ourselves in a bit of history in Welsh rugby.”