A rugby miscellany compiled by JOHN O'SULLIVAN

Still inspirational: O'Driscoll lives up to Galwey's remarks after Paris hat-trick

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL will take the pitch against England at the Aviva Stadium this evening 11 years to the day (March 19th, 2000) on which he inspired Ireland to a first win in Paris for 28 years by scoring a hat-trick of tries in a 27-25 victory over France at the Stade de France. Team-mate Mick Galwey’s comments in the aftermath are given an added resonance by the passing of time. He observed: “I don’t normally single out players but today was different. Brian was magnificent, out of this world. He was the difference between the two teams. Three tries in Paris is a mind-boggling achievement. I’ve only known the lad a few weeks, but I already recognise he is a very special talent. He is a world beater.”

O’Driscoll’s try against Wales last weekend saw him equal the record (24) for the most touchdowns in the Six Nations and its previous incarnations set by flying Scotsman Ian Smith who achieved that feat between 1924 and 1933. To facilitate conversations about the topic, here are five things you might not know about Ian Scott Smith.

1 He was born in Melbourne, Australia.

2 He scored three tries on his debut against Wales and afterwards one of the Welsh three quarters asked to be introduced to him so he could remember what he looked like; his point being he had only seen Smith’s back during the game.

3 He once scored five tries in a final trial and four tries against France and Wales respectively in successive internationals. Against the French he scored the last three tries of the game and the first three in the Welsh match.

4 He won a Grand Slam with Scotland in 1925 and captained his country in his final season (1933) leading them to a Triple Crown

5 He lost a leg later in life through illness and died in 1972, aged 68.

TOP SHOTS

IF HE is introduced from the bench this evening Ronan O’Gara will equal Mike Gibson’s all-time record of 56 appearances in the championship. The outhalf is one ahead (55) of Brian O’Driscoll (54) as Irishmen fill the top four slots; John Hayes is next. Today’s two replacement outhalves O’Gara (Ireland) and Jonny Wilkinson (England) are separated by just five points at the top of the all-time points scoring table. The Irishman is on 551 with Wilkinson on 546.

Good try But Ashton's scoring run still not the best

CHRIS ASHTON’S remarkable record of scoring nine tries in his first nine Test matches – he now stands at nine from 11 games – including four against Italy in this season’s Six Nations might be considered by many as the most prolific haul by an English player using the benchmark of reaching nine tries in the fewest games. It would be though a false assumption because there are two English internationals who can eclipse that statistic and a team-mate of Ashton’s from the England team at Lansdowne Road that can match the achievement.

Former Lions, England and Bath centre Jeremy Guscott, now an analyst with BBC television, took just seven matches to reach the nine-try mark for his country (1990). Arthur Hudson (1910) took eight games while England’s left wing today Mark Cueto (2005) equalled Ashton’s nine game mark. Cyril Lowe (1920) 12 matches, Dan Luger (1999) 13 and Ben Cohen (2001) 13 are next in line.

Kick start Ireland bottom of place-kicking table

IRELAND COACH Declan Kidney will be hoping there is a marked improvement in the place-kicking statistics against England at the Aviva Stadium. Given the fact most countries have used more than one place-kicker during the tournament, the following statistics relate to teams rather than individuals. England, lead the way with a 93 per cent success rate (14/15), followed by Scotland 81% (9/11), Wales 79% (15/19), France 68% (13/19), Italy 64% (11/17) and finally Ireland 57% (4/7).

** England manager Martin Johnson might be grateful that the Six Nations Championship ends this weekend therefore avoiding having to stock up on balloons, party streamers and birthday cakes. Four of the today’s England team celebrate birthdays towards the end of the month starting with hooker Dylan Hartley who will be 25 next Thursday.

Secondrow Tom Palmer is 32 tomorrow week while flying wing Chris Ashton will be 24 on March 29th and baby faced, gansta-rapping, London Irish prop Alex Corbisiero will celebrate his 23rd birthday on March 30th.

** Ben Prescott, a tighthead prop who joined Leinster on a short-term deal following the injury to Stan Wright last August, has just signed a contract with the Northampton Saints. The 32-year-old joined the English club in December following his brief spell at the Irish province during which he largely played for the Leinster A team. Saints’ director of rugby Jim Mallinder said: “Ben gives us plenty of experience in a crucial position.” The English club host Ulster in a Heineken Cup quarter-final next month.

"When he came over we thought he was faking it as a pastry chef from Ireland really. He became an invaluable member of our team and I don't think we've replaced him really since then.." – England captain Nick Easter on his former Harlequins team-mate Mike Ross