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Fans gutted that Sergio Parisse is bowing out off the field - not on it - due to Hagibis

Sergio Parisse won't be getting the Test rugby send off his long career deserved (Photo by Koki Nagahama/Getty Images)

With Super Typhoon Hagibis looming, World Rugby has been forced to cancel some World Cup matches this weekend. So far, England’s Pool C match with France has been cancelled as has New Zealand’s Pool B match with Italy, with the matches being registered as draws. Although it is unfortunate, the danger that this typhoon poses is bigger than any rugby match, as lives are ultimately at risk. 

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While no one wants to see games cancelled, both England and France had qualified for the quarter-finals, and New Zealand were firm favourites against Italy – albeit the Italians did have a chance of beating them which they have now been deprived of. 

There is a bigger picture in all of this, which many are aware of, but purely from a rugby perspective, the player that is most unfortunate from this ordeal is Sergio Parisse. The long-time captain of Italy is set to retire from international rugby at the end of the RWC and there was no better swansong than against the reigning champions. 

He has been denied the chance to pull on his country’s jersey for a 143rd and final time, and he is perhaps one player in the entire tournament who deserves that the most after all he has given to Italy over the past 17 years. The Toulon-bound No8 has vented his anger at this decision, suggesting World Rugby could move or reschedule the game, which many others have also suggested. 

However, possibly once the red mist has evaporated he will understand that the risks and complications that exist with the scheduling alternatives outweigh the sentimentality of the occasion. 

(Continue reading below…)

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Nonetheless, this is still a sporting black mark, something that many fans on Twitter have been quick to realise as they shared their bitter disappointment that the 36-year-old will not be given the farewell he may have wanted. 

On the plus side, some fans are playfully highlighting that he would have never dreamt that his last game against the All Blacks would be registered as a draw. This is what has been said: 

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https://twitter.com/IainHunt/status/1182196191146254336?s=20

https://twitter.com/TMRugbyCoach/status/1182185583164248065?s=20

This is also a disappointing ending for other Italian players such as Leonardo Ghiraldini and Alessandro Zanni, who have equally been great servants to their country. However, in terms of their status in Italian and world rugby, they do not match Parisse. Very few players in the game do. 

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WATCH: The moment when two of Saturday’s World Cup games were officially cancelled

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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