During an otherwise garbage first half in Rome, two high class tries from Sergio Parisse and Gaël Fickou have kept us utterly depressed Ireland fans modestly entertained.
Perhaps the half's most enthralling moment, however, was an outrageous pass from the aforementioned Parisse, who once more has performed to a near superhuman capacity for Conor O'Shea's side.
The Stade Francais number 8 found himself playing basketball defence at Twickenham a fortnight ago, as pesky Italy's hijinks playing by the rules drew the ire of the English elite, but the 33-year-old turned from centre to point guard as he flicked the ball around his back and into the arms of an on-rushing Italian, taking two French defenders out in the process.
Sergio Parisse pass vs France
Le Sergio Parisse #ITAFRA #RBS6Nations pic.twitter.com/Ykn8AdqUIa
— Le Justicier Ovale (@JusticierOvale) March 11, 2017
Sorry @RugbyPodcast I won't be able to listen to your podcast this week as il still be watching Sergio Parisse's pass #ItaFra pic.twitter.com/OVgSonX2xr
— Callum Leary (@callumleary93) March 11, 2017
That pass from Sergio Parisse was pure class👌 #ITAvFRA
— 👑 (@_JKx10_) March 11, 2017
That pass from Sergio Parisse was 🔥 A 🏉 god amongst men #bbcrugby
— Alex Taylor (@ScouseAlex) March 11, 2017
Sergio Parisse: 33 años, 1,95cm, 112kg, 125 partidos con Italia y un rever pass impecable #ITAvFRA #RBS6Nations #SEISNACIONESxESPN
— Manuel Riera (@manuelrierad) March 11, 2017
Good hands for a big man, although it presumably helps when they're the size of shovels.
Parisse's try, too, was more than decent; Carlo Canna attacked the French line and drew defenders with a deft dummy before putting Il Capitano over the French whitewash.
TRY! Italian colossus Sergio Parisse delights the home crowd #ITAvFRA 5-0 pic.twitter.com/yclsKM7hUE
— ITV Rugby (@ITVRugby) March 11, 2017
