FOR years Shane Williams made a mockery of the old adage ‘a good big ’un will always beat a good little ’un’.

But a glance at those numbered 14 to 11 in Wales’ Six Nations opener against Ireland shows that size matters to Warren Gatland.

Alex Cuthbert – 6ft 6in, 104kgs. Jon Davies – 6ft 1in 103kgs. Jamie Roberts – 6ft 4in 110kgs. George North – 6ft 4in, 110kgs.

This is no new phenomenon. There are plenty of strong fellas in rugby and it seemed that the impact made by Jonah Lomu in 1995 gave opportunities to big men on the wing that weren’t always deserved.

England have had Steve Hanley, a seemingly imposing lump brushed aside in his only cap by Craig Quinnell at Wembley, and Matt Banahan, whose tattoos have been more striking than his wing play.

Shane Horgan, Nikki Walker, Wendell Sailor, Dafydd James are all over 6ft 3in and have enjoyed success on the international stage.

A big winger can often look sluggish and cumbersome; they can seek contact and simply look to thrive on the cross kick.

And then George North comes along, a behemoth who combines the best of both worlds.

He isn’t just a tremendous physical specimen; he has a skill set that wouldn’t be put to shame alongside those shown by the likes of David Campese, Jason Robinson and even Shane.

The sight of him sitting down Fergus McFadden last Sunday could be a sight recalled in years to come like the 2005 picking up of Mathew Tait by Gavin Henson.

But to follow such an act of brute force with an offload to Davies out of the back of hand, showing the dexterity of a man who can no doubt change fiddly headlamp bumps in seconds, was a sight to behold.

It was such a marvelous piece of skill that it was tempting to stand up in the Press box and applaud maniacally like the Nazi major in Escape To Victory when Pele strikes his overhead kick.

But it was far from his only magic moment; there was the nifty footwork and fend to get past number eight Jamie Heaslip and subsequent steamrollering of Lions full-back Rob Kearney.

There was a classic take from an up and under with half an hour left, leaping high under pressure with his fingers pointing upwards like an Australian cricketer.

Such a talent, yet North is only 19 and his presence in the XV is invaluable for Gatland, who has plenty of other weapons at his disposal.

When England headed to Cardiff in 2009 they man-marked Roberts with flanker Joe Worsley.

It may have been effective in reducing the effectiveness of the centre but Wales still won.

Look out for North too much and there will be space for Roberts, Davies, Leigh Halfpenny, Toby Faletau and more.

Nobody wants players to be selected purely on how much they can bench press or how fast they can run the first 10 yards.

But it is a frightening opponent that has the physique of a gym monkey combined with grace, skill and guile.

Wales may well have to worry about the énorme Aurelien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu when France head to Cardiff on March 17.

But before then their own skilful giants with will be causing plenty of restless nights for opposition coaches Andy Robinson, Stuart Lancaster and Jacques Brunel.