6 Nations Tournament: Posolo Tuilagi, 19-year-old “baby”, 145 kg colossus, descendant of a prestigious dynasty… He has everything of a very great

L'Usapiste Posolo Tuilagi, un éléphant dans le moteur. MAXPPP – MICHEL CLEMENTZ

Posolo Tuilagi, le colosse de l'Usap, va fêter sa première cape chez les Bleus, ce vendredi soir contre l'Irlande. Une chose est sûre : il a tout pour conquérir la France du rugby.  

A "baby" of 145 kg: Posolo Tuilagi, son of a former Samoan international from Perpignan, should experience his first selection with the XV of France on Friday against Ireland at the opening of the Six Nations Tournament, at 19 years old only.

France rugby was waiting this winter for the big debut in the blue jersey of Toulouse second row Emmanuel Meafou (2.03 m, 145 kg), finally eligible for selection, but with a sprained knee finally pushed them away.

He left his mark on the Blues staff

Another colossus of foreign origin will undoubtedly have this chance in his place at the Vélodrome stadium in Marseille: the Perpignan player Posolo Tuilagi (1.92 m, 145 kg), propelled on Thursday on the Blues bench following the loss of Romain Taofifenua, who was ill.

I have rarely seen a young player make as many differences as he was able to do in our training

The young man with long hair and a thin mustache has "made an impression" of the French staff during the only day spent at Marcoussis last week, to the point of being recalled to the extended group on Sunday. "From memory, both as a player and as a coach, I have rarely seen a young player make as much difference as what he was able to do in our training" , underlines forwards coach William Servat.

"Posolo is ready", reassures the former hooker. "He spent the entire beginning of the week with us and in this time, he has largely integrated himself (…) When you realize this potential, it puts a smile back on your face despite the absences of some.

An exceptional size that wreaks havoc

Tuilagi, who hardly goes unnoticed, began to stand out last season in the Top 14 with his training club, Usap, even finding a place among the starters despite his lack of experience. high level. The second row was also one of the major players in the Bleuets' coronation last summer at the under-20 world championships.

He has always been physically dominant, but he is also technically above the rest

His exceptional size had done enormous damage against less developed players of his age. "In the youth categories, he has always been physically dominant, but he is also technically above the rest", analyzed the Perpignan coach David Marty, keen to protect the phenomenon, quickly announced among seniors.

"He weighs 150 kg, but he's a baby." "It's a rare profile", testifies the third row of the Blues François Cros. "It has a lot of power and it can be a really great weapon for us. He is very young, but he will have a bright future in rugby.

A prestigious dynasty

Beyond his measurements, Tuilagi arouses curiosities and expectations by his simple name since he is the heir to a prestigious dynasty of top players level.

His father Henry, a former Samoan international third row who was already oversized, had the heyday of Perpignan between 2007 and 2015, and his uncle Manu, three-quarter center, has 59 selections for the national team ;England. "Posolo, I knew him when he was little, I played with his father. It's weird to have him with me today, testifies Romain Taofifenua, for whom Tuilagi will certainly be called upon to take over the role of impact player at the end of the match facing Ireland.

His eligibility for the French team was the subject of an imbroglio last month. Born in Samoa, he does not yet have a French passport, an essential key under the former president of the Federation Bernard Laporte.

This is no longer the case and nothing is stopping the "baby" Tuilagi, based in France for more than five years, will experience quite a baptism of fire on Friday against one of the best teams in the world.