Shooting stars: Sergio Parisse (Italy)

By Charlie Henderson

Italy may not boast the proudest record in the RBS Six Nations but they do have one of rugby's best young stars in in Sergio Parisse.

That is the claim of coach John Kirwan, who has helped nurture Parisse since selecting him as the youngest ever Test number eight in 2002.

Now is the time for the 21-year-old to back up the bravado of his boss.

The Azzurri backrow promises to be a potent mix with Parisse flanked by the tackle-hungry, obdurate Aaron Persico and the fast, flamboyant Mauro Bergamasco.

Sergio has all the skills in the world Aaron Persico

Persico, for one, is licking his lips at playing a part in the triumvirate.

"Mauro can do anything on his day and Sergio is simply fantastic - he can take a team apart," he told BBC Sport.

"Sergio's only 21 and is already racking the caps up.

"He has all the skills in the world. He's fast, strong and very, very aggressive, but unfortunately he always gets injured."

It was all too good to be true. There had to be a "but".

The pernicious nature of modern rugby has been well documented and the Italian could swap sob stories with Jonny Wilkinson.

SERGIO PARISSE Born: 12 September 1983 La Plata, Argentina Position: No. 8 Caps: 15 Points: 5 (one try) Six Nations appearances: 3 Father (Sergio Sr.) won Italian championships with L'Aquila in 1960s/70s

Injuries have plagued Parisse's progress since he was given his debut as an 18-year-old in New Zealand and his longest run in the team, amounting to 10 consecutive games, coincided with the World Cup.

A campaign of four matches in 14 days handicapped Italy's efforts to break into rugby's elite and they returned home after the pool stages.

If that was a disappointment, Parisse's barn-storming performances from the base of the scrum were a revelation. He scored a try to boot and it was all too good to be true.

In the subsequent Six Nations, when he was tipped to enhance his burgeoning reputation, came that "but".

After defeats to England, when he nearly scored, and France, came a home victory over Scotland - Italy's third win in the tournament's history.

For Parisse it was a day of mixed emotions. The team had won but he had limped off with a thigh injury.

Italy Team Guide

It was to prove to be his last competitive outing in national colours for the year.

But now, almost 12 months on, he looks set to make an overdue impact on the Six Nations - injury permitting.

He sat out the autumn internationals against Canada, New Zealand and the USA, but has proved his fitness with Treviso in the Heineken Cup.

Kirwan has since wrapped him in cotton wool in an effort to make sure he is fit and in one piece for the opening match against Ireland on Sunday 6 February.

Despite his tender years, he is that important.

And if he can spend more time on the pitch than the physio's treatment table he should go a long way to adding weight to the considered opinions of Kirwan and Persico, as well as his country's Six Nations chances.