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The 'quick word' tribute old mentor Franco Smith gave Sergio Parisse
By Liam Heagney
Life came full circle for Sergio Parisse on Friday night in Dublin. When the veteran Challenge Cup winner with Toulon took his first steps in the game professionally over 20 years ago, the then-rookie teenager started out at Treviso where he had the company of Franco Smith at out-half to guide him through those formative early days.
At Aviva Stadium all these years later, an inspired Parisse lapped up the final European match of his stellar career by scoring an important early try in the swift breaking down of a lacklustre Glasgow side that was coached by Smith, the South African who switched into coaching in 2006 at the Cheetahs.
Post-game it was time for reflection on a career well spent and the opportunity to pay tribute to Parisse allowed Smith a momentary diversion away from the brickbats he had been getting regarding his Warriors team selection for a final in which they were outplayed to the tune of a wounding 43-19 scoreline.
“He is not a young man anymore,” began Smith. “First of all, I am very proud to be involved with him and his debut season. I think it was 2002 for Benetton, he was a young, exciting guy full of skill like he is now.
"He was just a little more reckless with it I suppose, but he has earned it and challenged himself and looked so well as a professional after his body to come all the way he has.
“What a gentleman and we had a quick word after the game. He is an important rugby figure. He is a very important cog in the wheel of Toulon. He physically made a difference as did his organisation of the lineout.
"He, as a person, is a fantastic man. I always say good people make good players. He is a classic example of that, and he can be really proud he gave it his all at 39 years old.
"He wanted to say goodbye to rugby in the way he did it. The ovation he got was fantastic, but also to take away the win in the Challenge Cup final was really important. I am really happy for him.”
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Latest Comments
Excellent points Mz. Because of other commitments I have just watched the game.
Interesting watching it after reading all the news reports especially in the English media. I was expecting to see a game that the ABs were very lucky to win. What I saw was a game that England showed their tactical incompetence and their inability to construct any try scoring opportunities.
They can go on deluding themselves that they were unlucky to lose ( as Borthwick said post match ) but until they stop relying on rush defence and goal kicking to win I feel they're doomed to be ranked 4 or 5 in the world.
Can't wait until the weekend to see how the Wallabies go against them
Though I dare say Walter will be hoping for an England win.
Go to commentsIF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.
As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.
Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).
This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.
If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.
Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.
After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.
Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.
Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)
Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.
Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.
Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.
Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:
Seeding Band 1
IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG
Seeding Band 2
SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: FIJI
1/8 final opponent GEORGIA
Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond
Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6
Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA
1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND
Prognosis: You know the prognosis
I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?
Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.
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