This would be great news, not just for Italy, but for rugby fans everywhere.
If Conor O'Shea didn't know
the scale of the job facing him should he, as has been widely reported, take over as Italy head coach at the end of the season, then Saturday's dismal performance against Ireland will have done the trick.
The Azzurri capitulated under waves of Irish attacks, putting in yet another poor display at international level. The saying goes that two swallows don't make a summer, and Italy remain a team capable of putting in a big performance or two before reverting dramatically to the also-rans of Tier 1 rugby nations.
Yet, amidst the struggles, one man has stood out as a bastion of world-class forward play, lifting and inspiring his team-mates to rare upsets over France, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and it looks like the great Sergio Parisse might just be willing to hang around a little bit longer than we thought.
French newspaper Midi Olympique is reporting that O'Shea, who has announced his departure from Harlequins, and Parisse have discussed the 118-times capped number eight's future, and the Italy skipper is willing to back the Irishman by committing to stay on until the 2019 World Cup.
By then he will be 36 and almost certainly among rugby's most capped players, but hopefully still playing at the highest level.
https://twitter.com/gavinmortimer7/status/709286663411929088
https://twitter.com/gavinmortimer7/status/709287013166522368
