Simon Taylor: Sergio Parisse remains an enigma

Is THERE a European rugby player more universally admired than Sergio Parisse? The old familiar names in the Italy team are gradually being phased out – no Bergamasco, no Bortolami or even Castrogiovanni (dogged by injury) today – but Parisse, after more than a decade at the top of his game, remains a beacon of sheer quality. He is rightly lauded and has been remarkably, consistently good over that time. But perhaps most impressive is how he has managed to maintain his own standards in the face of all the frustration and disappointment attendant with playing for a team that, like S…