The Adonis with a WAG at his side can earn Italians respect

The claims of Sergio Parisse to be a worthy Six Nations' Championship captain were done a power of good by a single circumstance in Dublin last weekend. As Italy's forwards piled towards the Ireland goal-line, the novice skipper – if a man about to earn his 50th cap against England today can be quite so described – broke off the maul to berate the referee, gesturing angrily towards an Irishman illegally positioned.

Point made, Parisse rejoined his fellow Azzurri, who drove the maul in a blur of blue over for a try they credited to their hairy biker of a prop, Martin Castrogiovanni. It was a cameo by Parisse of Martin Johnsonesque quality, in the heat of battle when the greatest gift is presence of mind.

Italy's new coach, Nick Mallett, appointed Parisse captain on 18 January. "We are looking to the future and we are ready to start a new chapter in the history of Italian rugby," Mallett, the former Springbok coach, said of his chosen right-hand man. The popular previous incumbent, Marco Bortolami of Gloucester, had his left eye socket fractured in a Heineken Cup match two days later, which put him out of the early rounds of the Six Nations. Fate? "It's a great joy to be captain, there's no use denying it," Parisse said.

But how do you like your captains? Although Italy lost 16-11 to the Irish, it was a triumph in other ways for the 24-year-old Parisse. The second-row Santiago Dellape collected a yellow card for a punch thrown into a ruck; otherwise, the Italians' discipline was exemplary. Ireland shot into a 10-0 lead yet were reined back to the extent that Parisse's team – with just one Six Nations away win in their 20 previous attempts – might have nicked it at the end.

The Parisse act, according to Mirco Bergamasco, is an easy one to follow. "I played with Sergio for Italy's juniors," the inside-centre said after the Ireland match, "and last year he came to join me and my brother at Stade Français. I have always thought he would make a good captain. He has a good personality and knows how to get the best out of other players."

But perhaps you like a certain swagger or suavity in your leader, a Lawrence Dallaglio crossed with a Will Carling, say. No problem. Parisse is a 6ft 5in smooth-skinned Adonis of a No 8, he is well paid by France's champion club, Stade Français of Paris, and he is a rare, er, bird in rugby in that he has a soccer-style WAG at his side in Alexandra Rosenfeld, who was voted Miss France and Miss Europe in 2006.

"Alexandra is my other life, and to be honest it is still early days," Parisse said recently. "This is my first really serious relationship and we support each other's dreams."

The lovely Alexandra – who, apparently, has designs on being a journalist – was said to be not best pleased when her man posed for the annual parade of male flesh which is the Stade Français calendar. Parisse argued that the American photographer, Steven Klein, had toned down the content this year. Then he mollified his moll that it was all done for charity, in this case in aid of sick children.

Oh, and by the way, Parisse is a hell of a player. Not huge for his position – at 17st 5lb he gives away 11lb to England's Nick Easter – but a brave ball-carrier, terrific tackler and intelligent distributor. He was born in Argentina to Italian parents.

"They spoke Italian at home, and every year I went to Italy on holiday," Parisse recalled of his youth. "I am proud to play for Italy." His father, Sergio Snr, had been a wing for L'Aquila, but when Parisse moved to Italy he joined Treviso, where he was capped aged only 18, before he joined Stade in 2006.

"Gradually Italy have been winning respect," Parisse said. "Other nations see us differently now. Our country does not have a great tradition of rugby and it is important that we get the results to build our history."

He had serious interest from Leicester during last year's transfer window, and though he chose to sign for another two years with Stade, he sees a move to England as a logical next step. At a seething Stadio Flaminio today, England's first step must be to size up Sergio Parisse.

Watch England's visit to Rome to play Italy today at 2.30pm on BBC1