Parisse slams the to cancel Italy’s
SERGIO Parisse has slammed the decision to cancel Italy’s crucial Pool B match with New Zealand because of Typhoon Hagibis.
The legendary Azzurri skipper claimed the game would have been rescheduled if the boot was on the other foot with the All Blacks requiring a win to reach the knockout stage.
“If New Zealand needed four or five points against us it would not have been cancelled,” insisted No.8 great Parisse.
The sides had been due to meet tomorrow morning in Toyota City but the cancellation has denied Italy a chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
A shock Italian victory over Steve Hansen’s side, without either side getting a bonus point, would have eliminated the backto-back holders.
Of course, that scenario was highly unlikely anyway, but Italy at least wanted a shot at it.
“It is difficult to learn we won’t have the chance to play a match against one of the great teams,” said Parisse, the second most capped player in union history behind New Zealand’s Richie McCaw with 142 appearances.
“We had the chance to play in a big stadium, against a great team.
“It is ridiculous a decision of this nature has been made because it isn’t like the fans arrived yesterday, it is ridiculous there was no Plan B, because it isn’t news that typhoons hit Japan.
“When you organise a World Cup you should have one (Plan B) in place.
“Sure, everyone might think that Italy versus New Zealand being cancelled counts for nothing because we’d have lost anyway, but we deserved to be respected as a team.
“If Italy and New Zealand decide they don’t want to play, then fine.
“But as I said before, if New Zealand needed the points then it wouldn’t have been cancelled.”
Italy coach Conor O’Shea described the situation as “horrible” when the bad news was broken to Parisse, outstanding flanker Alessandro Zanni and world-rated hooker Leonardo Ghiraldini - three standout players since the Azzurri entered the Six Nations and who are due to retire from international rugby following the World Cup.
O’Shea was also unhappy the match with holders New Zealand wasn’t postponed to a later date, pointing out: “The other teams (England and France) whose match has been cancelled are already through and we were the only ones who had a chance to qualify.
“Clearly everyone is down because we wanted to have the chance to play against New Zealand.
“You never know what can happen on the pitch. We had a long time preparing for this, there was good energy and good spirit in the squad.
“We had the chance to qualify. I’m not saying we would have beaten them, but you want to finish on the pitch.
“Anything can happen and you’re very emotional especially for Leonardo, who missed his last chance to play in an Italy jersey and to hear that your international career is finished after training is tough to take.
“The match versus New Zealand wasn’t the last match of our World Cup. It was the next challenge on our journey - that was our mentality.”
Ghiraldini broke down in tears after getting the sad news following months recovering from injury so he could figure at the World Cup.
“I’m finding it really difficult and I saw the players’ reaction after training,” said former Ireland full-back O’Shea.
“It was horrible because these guys have given everything to Italian rugby and their World Cup has ended on the training pitch, when it should be on the playing field.
“We didn’t know until this morning, so I’d been telling Sergio and the boys that it was on but likely to be wet.
“Everyone is down because we wanted to have the chance to play against New Zealand. I’m disappointed for the players, the staff and the fans.