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Calls for the legendary Parisse not to start against Springboks
Italy could be entering uncharted territory next week when they face South Africa, as it may be the first time in years that Sergio Parisse does not start due to tactics.
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This potential situation comes after the Italians’ demolition of Canada on Thursday where the back row were magnificent without their longstanding captain and talisman.
Starting in Parisse’s place was Braam Steyn, who not only scored the first try of the game but was a destructive thorn in the Canadians’ side all game.
With man of the match Jake Polledri having an equally dominant performance and Sebastian Negri not far behind on either flank, there is little space for the 141-cap legend – although there have been suggestions that he can move into the second row and be accommodated there.
While the 36-year-old Parisse brings experience and leadership that few others in the game can, he is undeniably no longer the force that he has been while he has carried his country over the past decade.
(Continue reading below…)
But with the gruelling prospect of facing World Cup contenders South Africa and the All Blacks in consecutive games, Steyn looks like the man to do more damage with eight on his back.
Although it seemed at one time unimaginable, there is a growing number of people on Twitter suggesting that the veteran may find himself on the bench when his side line up against the Springboks at Shizuoka on October 4.
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Of course, Conor O’Shea would have rested Parisse for the match against Canada to ensure that he is fresh for the Springboks but in his absence, Steyn has laid down an almighty claim to start against the country of his birth.
It may seem nothing short of rugby sacrilege, but there are murmurs that Italy may actually be better without Parisse. This is what has been said:
There may. Possibly. However thinly. Be a tiny, minute, atomically small case for Parisse to NOT start v South Africa. Because that back row performance by Steyn, Polledri, and Negri was ? #ITAvCAN
— Jack Zorab ?? (@Jack_Zorab) September 26, 2019
The Italian back row was pretty awesome against Canada today, really top notch. I reckon Sergio Parisse has his work cut out to keep his jersey. #RWC2019 #ITAvsCAN @ITVRugby
— Grumpy Old Ponty Boy (@LeighPontypridd) September 26, 2019
Unpopular opinion. Italy are better WITHOUT Parisse.
— Gareth Morgan (@Morgy1312) September 26, 2019
What do you mean Italy look a better team without Parisse playing……
— MC33 (@mick_cotter1) September 26, 2019
If Conor O'Shea doesn't realise after tonight that Italy are better off without Parisse in the starting XV, I'm not sure he ever will.
— Josh Gardner (@joshgardner) September 26, 2019
Everyone was worried that Italy would struggle when Parisse retired.
But now, Italy couldn’t be in a better position with Polledri, Steyn and Negri.
???
— Marcello Cossali-Francis (@Mcossalifrancis) September 26, 2019
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https://twitter.com/SouthTerracer/status/1177158375299141632?s=20
Braam Steyn the new Parisse? #ITACAN #RWC2019
— Nghia Mai (Not Steven Yuen) (@nmai_comedy) September 26, 2019
The most promising thing for Italy is that they now arguably look stronger without Parisse, which bodes well for their future.
This is after fears over the past few years about how the team will cope without the No8, but the future is starting to look bright for the Azzurri.
WATCH: Australian fans furious with ‘ludicrous’ Reece Hodge ban
Comments on RugbyPass
An on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to comments