George North lost for words over prospect of Wales reaching first Rugby World Cup final

Wing relishing the chance to beat South Africa and earn a shot at the trophy

Wales players George North (r) and Aaron Wainwright prepare for the World Cup semi-final against South Africa. Getty

George North fears he might be lost for words if Wales reach their first Rugby World Cup final.

The Six Nations champions will achieve that if they beat South Africa in Sunday's second semi-final, with the winners facing England next Saturday.

North's Test career began as an 18-year-old against the Springboks in 2010, when he marked his Wales debut by scoring two tries. Since then, Wales have won three Six Nations titles - including two Grand Slams - and topped the world rankings for the first time, as well as a World Cup semi-final defeat in 2011.

And as he prepares to win his 91st cap, North knows the magnitude of Sunday's occasion. "I don't think my vocabulary is good enough to describe that!" North said, when asked about the possibility of a World Cup final.

"Obviously, 2011 was incredible, 2015 we were one step off where we are now and, from our point of view, the boys are just raring to go. We know the challenges facing us, we know how well South Africa are playing and the impact they've had, and I think it will be massive. I think this one has got a better feeling about it.

"The most annoying thing now is just waiting for the game. The boys are champing at the bit to get involved, get in the mixer and get playing."

Asked about his own form ahead of another tilt at the Springboks, North added: "Mixed, if I'm honest. Obviously this is the biggest stage and where you want to be playing your best rugby.

"I've not been playing badly, but not to where I want to be. To get to a semi-final is massive. It's certainly one of the biggest games of my career and my life. Hopefully, we can go out and perform and have an even bigger one next week."

Injuries have sidelined full-back Liam Williams and back-row forward Josh Navidi from the semi-final, but centre Jonathan Davies has recovered from a knee problem to partner Hadleigh Parkes in midfield.

Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, takes over from Williams and Ross Moriarty packs down at No 8 instead of Navidi.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi knows what an impact winning the Rugby World Cup can have on his country, having seen how uplifting victories in 1995 and 2007 were for South Africa.

Their victory on home soil at the 1995 World Cup, with Nelson Mandela presenting the Webb Ellis trophy to captain Francois Pienaar just one year after the end of apartheid, is seen as a springboard for change in the country.

Kolisi, as South Africa’s first black captain, knows delivering another World Cup in Japan could have a similar boost back home. "We do have many different races in our country, and 11 different languages," he said. "I think it's really beautiful. That's why we are called the 'Rainbow Nation'.

"It just shows that when we decide to work together for one goal or as a team and as a country, we can make anything happen. It would be huge for our country, as I've seen what it has done before."