Inviato: 1 feb 2005, 18:32
<BR>Bella articolo dal BBC su Parisse..considerato uno dei stelle del prossimo 6N
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<BR>
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<BR>By Charlie Henderson
<BR>www.bbc.co.uk
<BR>
<BR>Italy may not boast the proudest record in the RBS Six Nations but they do have one of rugby\'s best young stars in in Sergio Parisse.
<BR>
<BR>That is the claim of coach John Kirwan, who has helped nurture Parisse since selecting him as the youngest ever Test number eight in 2002.
<BR>
<BR>Now is the time for the 21-year-old to back up the bravado of his boss.
<BR>
<BR>The Azzurri backrow promises to be a potent mix with Parisse flanked by the tackle-hungry, obdurate Aaron Persico and the fast, flamboyant Mauro Bergamasco.
<BR>
<BR> Sergio has all the skills in the world
<BR>
<BR>Aaron Persico
<BR>Persico, for one, is licking his lips at playing a part in the triumvirate.
<BR>
<BR>\"Mauro can do anything on his day and Sergio is simply fantastic - he can take a team apart,\" he told BBC Sport.
<BR>
<BR>\"Sergio\'s only 21 and is already racking the caps up.
<BR>
<BR>\"He has all the skills in the world. He\'s fast, strong and very, very aggressive, but unfortunately he always gets injured.\"
<BR>
<BR>It was all too good to be true. There had to be a \"but\".
<BR>
<BR>The pernicious nature of modern rugby has been well documented and the Italian could swap sob stories with Jonny Wilkinson.
<BR>
<BR> SERGIO PARISSE
<BR>
<BR>Born: 12 September 1983
<BR>La Plata, Argentina
<BR>Position: No. 8
<BR>Caps: 15
<BR>Points: 5 (one try)
<BR>Six Nations appearances: 3
<BR>Father (Sergio Sr.) won Italian championships with L\'Aquila in 1960s/70s
<BR>Injuries have plagued Parisse\'s progress since he was given his debut as an 18-year-old in New Zealand and his longest run in the team, amounting to 10 consecutive games, coincided with the World Cup.
<BR>
<BR>A campaign of four matches in 14 days handicapped Italy\'s efforts to break into rugby\'s elite and they returned home after the pool stages.
<BR>
<BR>If that was a disappointment, Parisse\'s barn-storming performances from the base of the scrum were a revelation. He scored a try to boot and it was all too good to be true.
<BR>
<BR>In the subsequent Six Nations, when he was tipped to enhance his burgeoning reputation, came that \"but\".
<BR>
<BR>After defeats to England, when he nearly scored, and France, came a home victory over Scotland - Italy\'s third win in the tournament\'s history.
<BR>
<BR>For Parisse it was a day of mixed emotions. The team had won but he had limped off with a thigh injury.
<BR>
<BR> Italy Team Guide
<BR>It was to prove to be his last competitive outing in national colours for the year.
<BR>
<BR>But now, almost 12 months on, he looks set to make an overdue impact on the Six Nations - injury permitting.
<BR>
<BR>He sat out the autumn internationals against Canada, New Zealand and the USA, but has proved his fitness with Treviso in the Heineken Cup.
<BR>
<BR>Kirwan has since wrapped him in cotton wool in an effort to make sure he is fit and in one piece for the opening match against Ireland on Sunday 6 February.
<BR>
<BR>Despite his tender years, he is that important.
<BR>
<BR>And if he can spend more time on the pitch than the physio\'s treatment table he should go a long way to adding weight to the considered opinions of Kirwan and Persico, as well as his country\'s Six Nations chances.
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>By Charlie Henderson
<BR>www.bbc.co.uk
<BR>
<BR>Italy may not boast the proudest record in the RBS Six Nations but they do have one of rugby\'s best young stars in in Sergio Parisse.
<BR>
<BR>That is the claim of coach John Kirwan, who has helped nurture Parisse since selecting him as the youngest ever Test number eight in 2002.
<BR>
<BR>Now is the time for the 21-year-old to back up the bravado of his boss.
<BR>
<BR>The Azzurri backrow promises to be a potent mix with Parisse flanked by the tackle-hungry, obdurate Aaron Persico and the fast, flamboyant Mauro Bergamasco.
<BR>
<BR> Sergio has all the skills in the world
<BR>
<BR>Aaron Persico
<BR>Persico, for one, is licking his lips at playing a part in the triumvirate.
<BR>
<BR>\"Mauro can do anything on his day and Sergio is simply fantastic - he can take a team apart,\" he told BBC Sport.
<BR>
<BR>\"Sergio\'s only 21 and is already racking the caps up.
<BR>
<BR>\"He has all the skills in the world. He\'s fast, strong and very, very aggressive, but unfortunately he always gets injured.\"
<BR>
<BR>It was all too good to be true. There had to be a \"but\".
<BR>
<BR>The pernicious nature of modern rugby has been well documented and the Italian could swap sob stories with Jonny Wilkinson.
<BR>
<BR> SERGIO PARISSE
<BR>
<BR>Born: 12 September 1983
<BR>La Plata, Argentina
<BR>Position: No. 8
<BR>Caps: 15
<BR>Points: 5 (one try)
<BR>Six Nations appearances: 3
<BR>Father (Sergio Sr.) won Italian championships with L\'Aquila in 1960s/70s
<BR>Injuries have plagued Parisse\'s progress since he was given his debut as an 18-year-old in New Zealand and his longest run in the team, amounting to 10 consecutive games, coincided with the World Cup.
<BR>
<BR>A campaign of four matches in 14 days handicapped Italy\'s efforts to break into rugby\'s elite and they returned home after the pool stages.
<BR>
<BR>If that was a disappointment, Parisse\'s barn-storming performances from the base of the scrum were a revelation. He scored a try to boot and it was all too good to be true.
<BR>
<BR>In the subsequent Six Nations, when he was tipped to enhance his burgeoning reputation, came that \"but\".
<BR>
<BR>After defeats to England, when he nearly scored, and France, came a home victory over Scotland - Italy\'s third win in the tournament\'s history.
<BR>
<BR>For Parisse it was a day of mixed emotions. The team had won but he had limped off with a thigh injury.
<BR>
<BR> Italy Team Guide
<BR>It was to prove to be his last competitive outing in national colours for the year.
<BR>
<BR>But now, almost 12 months on, he looks set to make an overdue impact on the Six Nations - injury permitting.
<BR>
<BR>He sat out the autumn internationals against Canada, New Zealand and the USA, but has proved his fitness with Treviso in the Heineken Cup.
<BR>
<BR>Kirwan has since wrapped him in cotton wool in an effort to make sure he is fit and in one piece for the opening match against Ireland on Sunday 6 February.
<BR>
<BR>Despite his tender years, he is that important.
<BR>
<BR>And if he can spend more time on the pitch than the physio\'s treatment table he should go a long way to adding weight to the considered opinions of Kirwan and Persico, as well as his country\'s Six Nations chances.
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
<BR>
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