Milestones and millstones

FIRST there was Edward Forrest in 1894, then Louis Magee in 1899, Karl Mullen in 1948 and ’49, and, more recently, Ciaran Fitzgerald in 1982 and ’85.

Now it's the turn of Brian O'Driscoll to follow in those illustrious footsteps and captain Ireland to Triple Crown glory at Lansdowne Road this afternoon.

He leads his men against Scotland with the plaudits of the game's pundits ringing in his ears. He has long since been dubbed "the best centre in the world", he is Ireland's leading try scorer and this afternoon's huge occasion coincides with his 50th international cap. He is also one of rugby's best-paid and most charismatic performers. So it would be reasonable to assume he has the sports and social world at his feet.