Parisse wants a win to come from the heart

Italy captain Sergio Parisse is banking on a passion-filled, sold-out Stadio Olimpico to push them to victory over Ireland today and provide veteran prop Andrea Lo Cicero with the perfect send-off into retirement.

Loosehead Lo Cicero will be playing his 103rd and final Test today in Rome having announced he will retire at the end of the season and the soon to be 37-year-old Racing Metro front rower was in tears yesterday as Parisse paid tribute to him during a pre-match press conference.

It is just the sort of emotion the Italian captain and No.8 is hoping will fire his side to a first Six Nations win over Ireland since the Azzurri joined the championship in 2000 and after a victory in Rome on the opening weekend against France as well as a valiant defeat last Sunday to England at Twickenham, the omens are good for the home side.