Leonardo Ghiraldini: Sergio Parisse will be "greatly missed"

Leonardo Ghiraldini has insisted that Sergio Parisse will be "greatly missed" during Italy's opening match at the Rugby World Cup.

The Azzurri skipper has been ruled out of their match against France on Saturday while recovering from a procedure to drain a haematoma in his calf following their warm-up defeat to Wales earlier this month.

The hooker, who is expected to captain Italy in Parisse's absence, told reporters: "Clearly he would be greatly missed, as he would be by any team in the world, just look at Stade Francais without him. On the other hand, it is a chance for other players, even more so for them because it is a World Cup.

"If I do captain the team I will do so in a natural way as I think that is the right thing to do. I won't change my way of playing and I will do the same things that I always do, even though I will have a few extra things to take care of in the build-up and during the match. It isn't a huge weight and would be a pleasure to captain the team during a World Cup."

After their match with France, Italy will also face Ireland, Canada and Romania.