Scrum of the Earth /

Andy Irvine was a genius. Arguably the greatest running full-back the world has ever seen, Irvine was born on September 16 195, later making his debut against New Zealand in 1972.

For those who were unlucky not to see Irvine's unique attacking capabilities in their pomp, think Christian Cullen's magic mixed together with Gavin Hastings' spice, and you're in the right area.

Electric pace coupled with a elusive step meant Irvine was a defensive line's worst nightmare.

51 caps, 15 as captain, three Lions tours, including five trues in one game, his career highlights included leading Scotland to their first win in Cardiff for 20 years in 1982, which in turn was Wales' first defeat in the capital for 27 games.

Back in the real world, in 1673, Galileo Galilei is tried before the Spanish Inquisition for daring to teach that the Earth orbits the Sun. Elsewhere in 1900, Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid commit their first robbery together and in 1970, Jimi Hendrix, ever the showman, died a totally rock 'n' roll death after asphyxiating on his own vomit following a drug overdose at a party.

And it's, Cherd Songsri! As they say in the Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, to the world's quickest Tiger, Tom Varndell, (23), England's youngest member of dad's army, Mike Catt (37) , French scrummie Dimitri Yachvilli (28) Aussie scholar Joe Roff (33) record breaking All-Black try scorer Doug Howlett (30) and that Argentinean who sounds like an Italian pasta dish, Diego Albanese (35)