Scrum of the Earth /

Only a short trip down memory lane, but what a ride. Seconds to go in Durban back in 2000, and the national lottery finger pointed its fateful finger onto Paul Honiss' cool head - "It's you."

Next minute, the whistle's blown and Australia have a penalty to win their first TriNations trophy. Step up Stirling Mortlock and the rest is history. Mortlock kicked 14 points in addition to Chris Latham's solitary try while Braam van Straaten must've been thinking 'Man of the Match, save Nick Mallett's bottom and free beer all night.' Not to be but definitely in our top two TriNations moments of all-time.

Elsewhere, in 1859, petroleum was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania (and the original well is still the only station... well maybe?). In 1910 the Yellow Cab is founded giving Hollywood directors even more of an excuse to waste a scene or two. And finally in 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastates much of the U.S Gulf Coast, killing more than 1,800 people and causing over $115 billion in damage.

And it's Suk San Wan Keut as they say in Thailand to Springbok bruiser CJ Van der Linde (28), Sale Shark Luke McAllister (25) French legend Serge Blanco (50) and Welsh scrummie Dwayne Peel (27).

This week marks the 87th anniversary of South Africa-New Zealand rugby rivalry. The first ever Test match took place on August 13th 1921, when the All-Blacks triumphed at Carisbrook 13-5.

Wing John Steel scored one of New Zealand’s two tries that day and All-Black historians still regard the star performer’s try in the drawn series as one of the most spectacular ever.

Collecting a cross-kick from the half-way line, with the ball awkwardly positioned behind his back, Steel raced away for a momentous score.

Elsewhere in history, in 30 BC, Cleopatra (nothing to do with the expensive porn-film) committed suicide after her lover Mark Anthony’s defeat at the battle of Actium. In 1945 George Orwell’s satirical allegory of Soviet totalitarianism, Animal Farm, was first published while 15 years later, in 1960, Cyprus gains its independence from the United Kingdom,   

And it’s Feliz Cumpleaños! as they say in Spain to the Barking bruiser, Jason Leonard (50), French Hall of Famer Andre Boniface (74), Springbok centre Adrian Jacobs (28) and the champion of the ‘shortest hat-trick in history’, Nick Easter (30)

In 1997, flanker Andre Venter became the first player to be sent off in a New Zealand-South Africa test match. The back-row bully was given his marching orders for trampling all over Sean Fitzpatrick’s head. Having been 21-11 up at one stage, and 21-29 down when Venter headed for the dressing room, within half an hour of his exit, the All-Blacks surged ahead by 50-21 - it was the first time either side had cracked the half-century barrier against one another. The aggregated 90 points still remains a Tri-Nations record for a single match.

Elsewhere in the rugby world, Australia stuffed Fiji 52-28 in 1985, and New Zealand and South Africa shared an 18-18 draw in 1994.

In 1305, William ‘Braveheart’ Wallace was captured just outside Glasgow and transported back to London where he would face trial and execution… and then have his life turned into a film. Dom Pérignon was invented in 1693, which would later bring pleasure to countless footballers wives and in 1936, Jesse Owens became the first athlete to win four golf-medals at the Summer Olympics in Berlin.

And it’s Tavalodet Mobarak! As they say in Persian to Argentinean magician Juan-Martin Hernandez (26) and countryman Federico Todeschini (33), South African legend Chester Williams (38) and England’s new Tiger Toby Flood (23).

In 1998, the Wallabies made it 15 wins in New Zealand since 1903. The last Australian captain to lift the trophy in Christchurch was Charlie Wilson way back in 1958, so they traveled more in hope than expectancy. That day it was Wilson Whineray who had to suck it up and deal with all the flak, but this time it was Taine Randell's All-Blacks that would taste defeat for a third game in succession as Stephen Larkham pulled the strings for a sophisticated Australian outfit.

Australia scored tries though Tom Bowman, Jason Little, Larkham and an 18-phase move culminating in a score for Matt Burke as they ran out 27-23 winners with the score flattering New Zealand, courtesy of two late tries from Christian Cullen and Jonah Lomu.

Elsewhere, in 1540 Henry VIII, who even found time to marry fifth wife, Catherine Howard on the same day, executed Thomas Cromwell on charges of treason. In 1836, L'Arc de Triomphe is inaugurated in Paris, leading to 172 years of bedlam at the top of the Champs-Elysees while in 1930; Uruguay won the first football World Cup in Montevideo.

And it's Kia huritau ki a koe! As they say in Maori to rugby union's most recent recruit, Sonny Bill Williams (23), England winger Topsy Ojo (23), French fancy Yannick Jauzion (30), South Africa's back-row bruiser, Juan Smith (27), New Zealand flyer, Mils Muliana (28) and Argentinean legend, Federico Mendez (36).

Special mention goes to French IRB Hall of Fame hero, Jean Prat, who would've been 85.