Not everyone wants to be an All Black
Sergio Parisse, former Italy captain and one of the best No.8s the game has ever seen, has revealed that there is nothing he would change about his international career.
Despite Italy’s lengthy struggle on the international stage, Parisse told the Daily Telegraph that he would still choose to play for Italy over New Zealand.
The 142-cap loose forward captained his nation on 94 occasions and led them to just 18 victories in that time. Parisse, who was born in Argentina, stated that he had no regrets about committing himself to Italy.
“People say to me, ‘Don’t you wish you had been an All Black and had all that success?’ Well, no. Being Italian is who I am,” the 36-year-old said.
“Maybe I’d have won more games but would I have the same emotions, the same experiences, the same camaraderie, the same joy?
“The most important thing in life is how you feel. If you feel a failure, then sure, that is not a good thing. But I look at my career, and I am proud of it.”
Source: BRUGBY MONTAGE, Andrew Forde and Rugby’O’Top
