Potential Lion George North was forced into hiding following the World Cup but is ready to come out fighting for Shane Williams as Wales face Australia on Saturday.
The 19-year-old star shot to fame with his bulldozing performances in New Zealand and became the youngest try-scorer in World Cup history.
But the spot-light threatened to overwhelm the Wales rookie upon his return from New Zealand and North raced to his sister’s remote Anglesey hideaway.
"I still find it weird to get all the attention, it's not why I started playing the sport,” said North
"I used to be able to slip away from it but now I have use my speed to get clear!
"I'm getting recognised a lot more now so as soon as we were back from New Zealand, I packed myself off to my sister's place in north Wales.
"She lives right out in the sticks so it was great. I could walk the dog, enjoy home comforts, ride the bike just like any other 19-year-old lad."
But North is aiming to storm back to give two-time Lion Shane Williams the perfect international send-off while enhancing his own 2013 tour credentials.
"Shane was one of the reasons I first picked up a ball. He has been an inspiration to so many young players that we're all desperate to win if for him.
“Growing up he was the first guy you would see when you turned the television on because he was always the guy on the ball doing something special.
“Personally, for the last five or six years I have really looked at the way he plays and the passion he shows for his country.
“He is a man I admire and the passion is something I look forward to taking on in my career.
“We are at opposite ends of the scale – short and tall, light and heavy – but there are so many parts of his game I admire – his agility on the ball, his timing, his awareness and his general work-rate around the park. For me, they are qualities I want to bring into my game more.”
