CARDIFF: He famously manhandled the most prized possession of Australian rugby when he carried Israel Folau on his back, but powerful Welsh winger George North has only one thing on his mind – ending his country's Wallabies hoodoo.
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North's superhuman effort to throw Folau around like a rag-doll a year ago signalled the British and Irish Lions' uncompromising intent on their historic tour of Australia last year.
He hopes Wales can bring the same mentality to Millennium Stadium on Sunday as his team aims to end a nine-match losing streak against the Wallabies.
North and Folau clashed in a battle of the power wingers last year, when North scooped up Folau and ran five metres with Australia's three-code star on his shoulder like a backpack.
"It's one of those ones … everyone's getting bigger and faster and stronger these days," North said.
"If you look at both back lines, there's some pretty big specimens along the way, I think it will be a great competition from 9-15.
"[Carrying Folau] was one of those crazy moments where you think to yourself, 'what am I doing?'. The whole of the Australian back line oozes quality, but we just have to do our job."
Welsh coach Warren Gatland was the architect of Australia's downfall on the Lions tour.
There were 15 Welsh players in the 37-man squad; 11 of them are in the team for the clash against the Wallabies this weekend.
The confidence gained from the Lions' 2-1 series triumph will bode well despite Wales remaining winless against Australia since 2008.
Wales' nine losses to Australia have been by an average margin of six points.
"[The Lions win] does give us a bit of confidence, but we are Wales now and there are a few boys who weren't involved [in Australia]," hooker Richard Hibbard said.
"We've got to beat them as Wales now, we've come so close the last four times and the spread has been something like 12 points, that's how close the games have been.
"[A win] is definitely coming. It's business as usual."
Wales assistant coach Shaun Edwards expected the Wallabies' to use recent off-field woes to make them stronger as a team.
Australia won four of their five Tests in Europe last year, including a 30-26 win against Wales.
"Sometimes when there's a lot of chaos around you, it can unite the team together," Edwards said.
"I think Australia did that, they played some magnificent rugby against the All Blacks [in Brisbane], now they probably know how we feel against them the last couple of times."
