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Fans have heaped praise on Sergio Parisse as he prepares for his fifth World Cup after Italy boss Conor O’Shea named the No8 in his squad for the finals.
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The 35-year-old will join an exclusive club of two other players, Samoa’s Brian Lima and compatriot Mauro Bergamasco, in playing at five World Cups. It will also be his third time captaining his country at the finals.
Since making his debut in 2002 as an 18-year-old, Parisse has established himself as one of the modern greats of the game, being shortlisted for the World Player of the Year award in 2008 and 2013.
Few players make such an impact on their team as the Italian does, as he has stood head and shoulders above his team-mates at times throughout his career.
Fans on social media have been quick to praise the forward, with many acknowledging him as one of the greats of the game.
? #Italrugby: i 31 Azzurri convocati per la #RWC2019 ? https://t.co/1nO1GMCFfi#insieme #rugbypassioneitaliana pic.twitter.com/V43m0XncO3
— Italrugby (@Federugby) August 18, 2019
Perhaps he has not received the recognition throughout his career from all over the world because he has not been in one of Test rugby’s high-flying nations, but there is still a huge number of fans that rate Parisse.
This World Cup could also see Parisse become the second most capped Test player in history. He currently sits third on the list alongside George Gregan with 139 caps but could eclipse him in the remaining warm-up Tests against France and England.
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https://www.instagram.com/p/B1WgodEoghb/
Should he play both warm-ups, he will be level with Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll. However, for the No8 to level with New Zealand’s Richie McCaw, Italy would need to reach the final or third-place play-off, which is improbable.
Nonetheless, should this be the tournament in which the Toulon-bound forward bows out of the international game, he will leave a legacy as one of rugby’s best-ever players. This is what has been said:
Whilst carrying 14 other guys on his back. One of the best…. ever. #legend
— Alex Griffiths ??????? (@tokesurf76) August 20, 2019
A true leader and the epitome of sporting effort regardless of the result. Bravissimo.
— Paul L ???? (@paul9lewis1) August 20, 2019
Will be regarded as one of the all time greats. If Italy can find a few more Parisse’s they would be a real force.
— Lee AW ???????? ?????? (@LWaunfawr) August 19, 2019
This guy packs down at 8 in my all-time Respect XV. https://t.co/1CnmEX6GAT
— Alex Tarr (@alexthetarr) August 19, 2019
Best no.8 ever. https://t.co/MS0N0zj8BQ
— iRenka (@SclZnd) August 19, 2019
This will be his 5th World Cup! Machine!??? #SergioParisse #RugbyWorldCup https://t.co/pWvbThqNVN
— Jon Skipp (@DarthSkippius) August 19, 2019
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5th World Cup for @sergioparisse ?????? #legend #5notout
— Kyle Huntington (@KyleHuntington5) August 19, 2019
Italy have never progressed to a World Cup quarter-final, and with Parisse’s men set to face the All Blacks and the Springboks in Pool B, it would be a titanic upset should they manage to do so this year. Regardless of where Italy finish, playing at a fifth tournament will be a remarkable feat for the Italy skipper.
WATCH: Episode four of the RugbyPass Rugby Explorer series where Jim Hamilton takes a trek through Italian rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
I 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.
19 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.
7 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.
19 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?
9 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.
9 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 commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments