Farewell to two great generals

ANOTHER Six Nations has come and gone and the tournament will never be quite the same again. Two of its finest on-field generals, Sergio Parisse and Rory Best, are moving on.

Their imminent retirement from the Test scene after the World Cup later this year will leave the Six Nations with a void over the departure of a pair whose combined service amounts to more than 120 starts over the last 15 years.

Who else but Parisse could have given body and soul to a largely losing cause since 2004 without ever flinching in the face of cruel odds? Who else but Best could have defied Father Time even longer than his Italian counterpart in taking Ireland to greater heights than those reached by his predecessors, Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll?

It can be said without fear of contradiction that their like will not be seen again.