Sergio Parisse facing race against time to face Ireland

By Brendan O’Brien, London

Sergio Parisse is unlikely to train with Italy until Thursday this week, at the earliest, once again calling into question the Azzurri captain’s fitness ahead of their critical Rugby World Cup Pool D meeting with Ireland at London’s Olympic Stadium this Sunday.

The talismanic number eight has already missed both of his country’s games thus far in the tournament, the opening loss to France in Twickenham and the narrow victory over Canada at Elland Road, due to a haematoma in his calf.

However, Parisse joined up with the rest of the Italy squad this morning in their Cobham team base, having arrived in London’s St Pancras Station from Paris, and the feeling had been that the calf problem had been responding well to injury.

Italy coach Jacques Brunel will name his team to face Ireland on Friday afternoon.