GO back a year and the only thing occupying George North’s mind was whether he would pass his A Levels
Now he’s waiting on a result of a different kind – whether he’s won selection to play for Wales at the World Cup.
It turned out OK for North 12 months ago, as he successfully negotiated exams in PE, geography, biology and, of all subjects, drama.
You’d have thought too that the Scarlets youngster has had little reason to fret this time around either.
Barring injury or a catastrophic and unforeseen loss of form, the 19-year-old will be on the plane to New Zealand as an integral part of Warren Gatland’s backline.
Which is testament to the impact he has made in just five Test appearances since he marked his Wales debut with two tries against South Africa last autumn.
Yet North is anything but complacent, knowing that a clash with England in front of a sell-out 82,000 Twickenham crowd will see him placed under a whole new level of scrutiny – warm-up game or not.
Furthermore, with Chris Ashton, the darling of England’s Six Nations championship-winning side as his opposite number, the pressure on North to underline that he belongs in this sort of company is sure to intensify.
Not that he has any plans to emulate Ashton’s elaborate try-scoring swallow dive.
“That’s not me,” he was quick to stress. “I’m more about just getting the ball down and going again.
“Plus I’m slightly heavier than him, so it would be a bigger collision with the ground!
“I don’t think it would do me any good.
“But I think Chris Ashton has done great in the way he’s switched from league to union – and he is a great athlete.
“It will be good to play against him because I’ve watched him and tried to take on board the things he does well.
“His work-rate and his hunger to get on the shoulder of runners is what impresses me most.
“If you watch him, he’s always there in the right place to take an offload.”
North is confident and articulate, not afraid to crack a joke or two and seems to have a maturity which belies his years.
But he also has a modesty in keeping with his relative inexperience. North seems to appreciate that, while he’s come a long way in a short space of time, there are so many boxes still to be ticked.
“This time last year I wanted to pass my exams at Llandovery College and have a good pre-season with the Scarlets,” he said.
“So if I am lucky enough to go to this World Cup I just want to put in good performances and cement my place in the squad.
“So those that matter think I’ve done well and want me back.
“We’re all still learning and I’m just enjoying my time. I’m trying to take in as much as possible.
“I’ve obviously never been to a World Cup and I’ve spoken to a lot of the older lads about how it works.
“It’s just made me want to go even more.”
North can start packing his suitcase if he shines at Twickenham on Saturday.
He’s never played there before, but his bright-eyed enthusiasm for the occasion seemed to betray a complete fearlessness.
So does he remember the gruesome 62-5 carnage of August 2007 suffered by Gareth Jenkins’ Wales?
“I want to say no! But yes I do,” he smiled.
“It’s key for us to get off to a good start, but if you do have a loss it will only highlight what you need to do for the World Cup.
“England away will be tough and it’s always a grudge match.
“I think it will be like a Six Nations game. There will be a great atmosphere.
“We know we need to focus on the bigger picture, but we also have to focus on this particular game.
“It will be good to get the conditioning part out of the way, the working of the lungs the arms and the legs and get some actual game-time.”
That’s a reference to the fortnight Wales have spent in Poland in the last month, ensuring that fitness-wise, there will be no issues when the serious business begins.
Sitting close to him it is impossible not to be struck by his immense physique, and be glad you’re not charged with the task of flooring him at full-pelt.
But, even as a fellow renowned for his athleticism, North admitted the two one-week Welsh camps in the town of Spala took some getting through.
“It was pretty horrible really,” he said.
“But we didn’t go out there for a holiday camp. We went there with the mentality of putting in hard work.
“It was a great experience for me. I was looking forward to going and, although it was hard, it has been beneficial though there were times I thought, ‘Why the hell am I in Poland?’
“I feel as if I’m in the best shape of my life.
“Some days it was absolutely pouring down, then the next day it was bright sun and baking hot. A bit like Welsh weather!
“And the place we stayed wasn’t like the hotel rooms we are used to here, that’s for sure.
“Basically we just had what we needed. A room with a TV the size of a postage stamp.
“But it was good for the boys just to be able to focus on the training rather than anything off the field.
“There’s a squad of 45 and we all know only 30 will make it and that some are going to be disappointed.
“That’s why as time goes on you sense boys are doing more and more to put their hands up.
“It’s during the fitness, the rugby sessions, and making sure skills are topped up – everyone is putting in the work.
“Boys want to get that last little percentage that is going to get them a seat on the plane.”
There’s one final footnote to consider as North prepares to face England for the first time – the fact his father Dave is, well, English.
But if North senior – who married a Welsh girl when the RAF posted him to Anglesey – has any divided loyalties, his son seems unaware of it.
“I’ve not spoken to him much, we’ve kind of skirted around the subject,” smiled North.
“Yes, he was born in England, but when your son is playing for Wales I think you only have one country in your mind.
“I think – at least I hope – that his loyalties lie with his son.”
There are no events to show yet.