Rory Best will truly go down as Methusalah in a scrum-cap

The man who rules European rugby astride a turbo-charged zimmer frame is contracted to make his last stand next year at the age of 37, assuming he lasts that long.

Should Ireland take their venerable captain the distance in Japan and justify their global ranking as the second best team in the world by reaching the final, Rory Best will truly go down as Methusalah in a scrum-cap.

Now coming up to 36, he is already older than the oldest to have captained his country in the Six Nations.