Six Nations: Alex Cuthbert follows Wales 'legend' Shane Williams

Wing Alex Cuthbert will make his first Wales start and win his second cap against Ireland

Alex Cuthbert says he will be happy if he enjoys a Test career anywhere close to "legend" Shane Williams.

The 22-year-old Cardiff Blue makes his first Wales start in Sunday's Six Nations opener with Ireland in Dublin.

Cuthbert takes up the wing berth left vacant by the international retirement of Wales record try scorer Williams.

"I'm following an absolute legend and to get anywhere near the heights he's been… just to aim somewhere near him would be good enough for me," he said.

"But I'm wearing 14 on Sunday and George [North] is wearing 11, so should be good.

"I'll be myself, what I've been doing in the rest of the season, just show what I can do with my physicality and pace.

"I'll just have to see how it goes but I can't wait."

Cuthbert, at 6ft 6in and 16st 5lb, is a very different wing than the diminutive Williams with a different style.

But the youngster has found himself fast-tracked into the Test arena.

After playing for the Blues academy last season, Cuthbert is now a regional regular and has also progressed through the Wales sevens team, praising the role of sevens coach Paul John in helping his development.

That saw Wales head coach Warren Gatland hand Cuthbert his Test debut in the December game against Australia, coming off the bench for the last 11 minutes of that 18-24 defeat in Cardiff.

"It's going to be a lot different; it's a lot bigger game Ireland away in the first game of the Six Nations," Cuthbert added.

"Gatland has given me the chance, so I've just got to take it now.

"I've started from the bottom and worked my way up a lot quicker than I thought anything was going to happen.

"I was aiming for the LV just to play one game for the Blues, I would have been happy, but starting for Wales against Ireland is a bit of a shock really."