Italy No.8 Sergio Parisse might have been part of an Italy side that won the wooden spoon in this year’s RBS 6 Nations.
But the Stade Francais star remains incomparably one of the very best players in the world according to a rival Top 14 coach.
Laurent Labit, the head coach of Stade’s Parisian rivals Racing Metro, has compared Parisse’s influence to that of basketball player LeBron James in the NBA.
And with such a complete skillset at his disposal, Parisse is unique amongst his peers according to Labit.
“There is not another player like Sergio Parisse in the whole of the Top 14, let along at Stade Francais,” he said.
“When he is 100 per cent he is one of the best players in the world.
“He’s a magician, a bit like a basketball player. You could compare him to someone like Lebron James.
“He can do everything on the pitch, kicks, offloads, jumps, he is imperious under the high ball.”
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