MORE BRILLIANT EXTRACTS IN TOMORROW’S

used to say. And I definitely felt like I played better after a good shave and a nice tan.

I loved playing with Shane. I remember watching him for Neath when I was younger and thinking, ‘Imagine having the talent he’s got.’ He was phenomenal, running round in his baggy jersey and scoring these magic tries.

People say Shane and I had a telepathic understanding. It may have looked that way, but most of it was down to work rate. Knowing he could conjure something from nothing, I would always make sure to be on his shoulder in case he made a half-break.

Shane was untouchable in 2008, a deserved winner of the IRB World Player of the Year Award. The try he scored against France to seal the Grand Slam, where he hacked a loose ball through and gathered it at full tilt... I’m convinced no one else on the planet could have done it.

He liked nothing better than to run at people one-on-one (especially the big men), and he could make you look silly.

The secret was how he’d run straight at you, sidestepping only at the last second, to leave the wouldbe tackler flailing at thin air.

The way he signed off his careers for Wales and Ospreys (with tries in each case) was typical Shane. And you can’t begrudge him any of the plaudits.

Once written off as too small, no one worked harder to overcome the odds and prove the doubters wrong. may not have got the ball, but he’d be attracting a defender.

Gav was a great player. He had an unbelievable boot on him, maybe even bigger than mine (we’d have kicking contests).

He had great vision, with that Regan King-like ability to put players into space with a telling pass.

And he had that one quality great players seem to possess – time.

Often he’d have just milliseconds to play with, but to the onlooker it seemed like the whole time in the world.

Personally, I loved his company. I used to visit him at his house in St Brides Major – complete with mirrored gym and sunbed – that he shared with his ex, Charlotte.

More often than not, the karaoke machine would come out.

Granted, he’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I thought he was great for team spirit.

He was different, and I like that. Strutting round in his silver boots with his tan and good looks: you need characters like that in a team.

And he was a model professional when it came to looking after himself.

He’d turn up to training with Tupperware boxes filled with chicken or