Fear not, Italian rugby fans, captain and talisman Sergio Parisse has told World Rugby TV that he has no plans to hang up his white boots for quite a while yet.

The 31-year-old has been the driving force of Italian rugby for more than a decade, and it is hard to imagine an Azzurri back row packing down without him. Other than New Zealand’s Richie McCaw, Parisse is the most capped back row forward in international rugby with 107 starts and three apearances off the bench, and he features in all of Italy’s all-time most capped back row combinations.

Despite playing in a side that historically has struggled to win more matches than it loses – Italy head to Scotland on Saturday on a run of just one win in 14 – the talismanic number 8 has won the respect of rugby fans the world over for his dynamic displays from the back of the scrum. Indeed, with 27 carries, he is the top ball carrier in this, his 12th RBS Six Nations campaign.

Crunching the statistics on round two of the Six Nations
With round three of the Six Nations approaching fast, we look back at round two in detail to show which teams stood out

Given his huge importance to Italy, does he feel the weight of expectation every time he takes to the field?

“A weight on my shoulders? No! Because I’m a player that, beyond being the captain of my national team and my club, is very demanding of myself. I’m a player who always tries to improve and even when I have a good game I always try to spot a mistake or something that I didn't do well in the hope that I can get better," he insisted.

“I do not feel the weight on my shoulders at all. Actually, it is part of my responsibilities as captain to deal with the pressures and expectations, and I am happy to do it.”

And Parisse is more than happy to carry on leading from the front. 

“My first tournament was 12 years ago and, certainly physically, I was a lot fresher then than I am now. But mentally, even though I’m 31, I still have the desire and willpower to play the game. Most importantly, I still feel the same pride to be involved in the Six Nations.

“My intention is to keep playing at the highest level without thinking about my age. I feel I am at a point in my career where I have fulfilled my potential and I wish to continue at this level for another two or three years. 

“Retiring is something I will think about later on, I will never say I will definitely stop playing at 33, 34 or 35. I will consider my situation year by year, and if physically I can keep up with the rigours of playing at the highest level, and I am still enjoying it, then I will keep on playing.”

The full Sergio Parisse interview can be seen in this week's World Rugby TV show, available to view HERE>> Also on World Rugby TV this week,  England's George Ford stars in our 'Tackle These' Q&A, England's oldest living international Harry Walker talks about his life in rugby, Jamie Roberts goes down memory lane to reflect on Wales' quarter-final win against Ireland at RWC 2011 and one of Indonesian rugby's brightest stars talks about how he got into rugby, and much more.