Our good friend and foe Sergio: An a-Parisse-ation

It's a sign of serious affection when fans are delighted to see an opposing team's best player return to fitness.

Joe Schmidt's men might disagree, but we're delighted to see Sergio Parisse back in training and (hopefully) fit to face Ireland in the Olympic Stadium on Sunday. It would be a crying shame if a calf haemotoma kept arguably the greatest No8 in the history of European rugby out of this World Cup – at 32 we cannot be sure that the 113-Test veteran will be around come Japan in 2019. Of course this is all up for review if the Stade Francais captain wrecks our World Cup dreams, but until that day here are a bunch of reasons why we love Sergio Parisse.

He's the closest thing to a one-man team you can get in Test rugby

https://twitter.com/jd_davies/status/647774018821586944 https://twitter.com/stegwyn/status/647784464316268544

He really loves a large steak

https://instagram.com/p/78QT3NrbgE/?taken-by=sergioparisse https://instagram.com/p/7qWJ0KrbtR/?taken-by=sergioparisse

If you're gonna eat big chunks of meat, you're gonna need a big plate

https://instagram.com/p/341IU_Lbg3/

He can do this, against the three-time European champions

He leaves the autobiographies of famed world leaders scattered around the gaff

https://instagram.com/p/7f6S67rbor/?taken-by=sergioparisse

Real men wear pink

He takes his daughter on a tour of London, on the day Italy play Canada

https://instagram.com/p/8GF4n1LbkW/?taken-by=sergioparisse

No matter how often he is asked, Jamie Heaslip always has something nice to say about him.

Before this year's Six Nations clash

"On a personal level, I can't wait to go up against Sergio Parisse next week because he has been, for a number of years now, one of the best No.8s in the world. "He is a massive leader for them, the core of the team - and he's a great bloke off the pitch. You always want to pit yourself against players like that. "

Before 2013 Six Nations clash

"He's an amazing player and he's an awfully nice guy as well off the field, so he's an all-round good guy. It probably makes it even more enjoyable, going up against a guy like that, who you're able to talk to after the game about the game."

Before 2013 Challenge Cup final

“He’s a great player. I can only say high words about him. The leadership he shows for Stade and Italy is clear. It is a huge challenge, for me, personally, and the back row to face Sergio and his back row unit.”

Even when praising Kieran Reid

"In my book, I would put him and Sergio as the best eights out there and he is showing some incredible form right now."

He and room-mate Martin Castrogiovanni seem like a good value...

https://instagram.com/p/6njiKyLbh-/?taken-by=sergioparisse

... And are the best anthem singers since Nadia Forde

The man loves rehabbing

https://instagram.com/p/8ITmLcrbkx/?taken-by=sergioparisse https://instagram.com/p/72vKWBLbqc/?taken-by=sergioparisse https://instagram.com/p/77u4qOLbku/?taken-by=sergioparisse

Peter Stringer always insisted he be treated the same on the field, despite his size, Parisse obliged. Obliged him to the back of the head.

He loves winning

And hates losing

He takes the onset of baldness in his stride

For all these reasons and more, we're big fans of Parisse. Who cares if he has only 31 of 113 Tests? As long as number 32 doesn't come on Sunday we will keep a fond place in our heart for the Italy captain.