George North would love to follow in Shane Williams' footsteps but admits the retiring Wales star is "a one-off".
Fellow winger pays tribute to retiring Wales star
George North would love to follow in Shane Williams' footsteps but admits the retiring Wales star is "a one-off".
North was just seven when Williams won the first of his 87 Test caps that reaped a Wales record 58 tries.
He has now been labelled as the heir apparent on the wing, but knows he will do well to match Williams' achievements.
"Shane is a one-off," said North. "He has got the x-factor. I am a different shape to him physically, but I can take stuff from his game and put it into my own.
''He has been the best. Yes, I can try to do things, but it won't look half as good. Shane is Shane.
''He's a special bloke, and I am just happy to have had the honour to play alongside him.
''Hopefully, they (Welsh Rugby Union) will offer him a job of speed and agility master. He's like a book - you have just to crack it open and then read chapter after chapter of awesome stuff.''
Emotion
North was speaking after Williams bade farewell to the international scene, scoring a late try in Wales' 24-18 defeat to Australia in Cardiff.
Emotion was everywhere, etched clearly into Williams' face during the Welsh national anthem and throughout a tearful post-match television interview, and long after the final roar of appreciation had faded, North spoke for a grateful nation.
''If I can have half the career Shane has had, then I will retire a happy man,'' he said.
''It was a great way for him to finish, but I am devastated to have lost him as a player and friend in the squad. I wish he would play for a bit longer just to give me a bit more of his wisdom.
''He is Welsh rugby - there is no bigger compliment I can give him. He is Welsh rugby through and through.
''He has never said never. He works so hard on and off the pitch to be the best he can be and then turn up on the weekend and perform.
''For 11-odd years, he has done that. Even on the day he retired he was one of the better players out there. He was still running lines and making awesome offloads, and then to score a try like that, he took it so well.''
