Italy legend Parisse bows out in Rome

ROME: Italy rugby great Sergio Parisse bid farewell to the Stadio Olimpico in Rome this weekend with another bitter disappointment as the Azzurri snatched a 25-14 defeat from the jaws of victory against France. Even in defeat, the 35-year-old Parisse was the star of the show, setting up Tito Tebaldi’s second-half try to cap a dominant performance which earned the skipper the Man of the Match award.

It was the final Six Nations game for 138-times capped Parisse and fellow Italy veterans Leonardo Ghiraldini (104) and Alessandro Zanni (111). But it ended with a 22nd consecutive defeat in the tournament, a fourth consecutive Wooden Spoon for a whitewash, and Ghiraldini’s knee injury.

“There’s frustration at such a missed opportunity,” said number eight Parisse of “probably” his last game in Rome. “I don’t know if it’s my last game, we don’t care,” he said. “I can’t find the words because we leave this game with the feeling of having dominated. “We lost so many opportunities.”

Parisse’s towering presence has accompanied Italy for nearly two decades. Born in Argentina to Italian parents, Parisse arrived in Europe to play for Italy’s youth teams. He quickly established his reputation and before he turned 19 had earned his first cap with a baptism of fire against the All Blacks in June 2002.

Seventeen years and 138 caps later, the Stade Francais captain has spent half of his life in the Italy jersey. The World Cup in Japan from September 20 to November 2 should mark the end of his international career, allowing him to close the gap on New Zealand’s Richie McCaw’s record of 148 caps.In the Six Nations, Parisse is already out on front with a record 69 matches played, 51 as captain, overtaking Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll’s 65 this campaign.