“The impression that it has been there for a long time”, the express rise of Posolo Tuilagi

Posolo Tuilagi should make his first start for the Blues this Sunday, against Italy. At only 19 years old, the 2nd line quickly found a place for Marcoussis. Accustomed to skipping stages for years.

“I’m very happy to play with him, not against him.” When he mentions Posolo Tuilagi, Toulouse 3rd line Alexandre Roumat prefers to laugh about it. It is said that with his height of 1.92 meters and almost one hundred and fifty kilos, the Perpignan second line made a sensational entrance to the Blues.

27 minutes against Ireland, 31 against Scotland (and his hand under Sam Skinner’s last-second try) during his first two selections and, above all, a probable start this Sunday against Italy, in the third match of the French team in the Six Nations Tournament. All this in a few weeks and, above all, at only 19 years old. The new UFO of the Blues is him.

“A year and a half ago he was at Crabos (under 18, editor’s note), but very quickly we promoted him to aspirants,” recalls the French attack coach. Patricio Arlettaz, who already knew Posolo Tuilagi when he coached Perpignan. “When he went from Crabos to Hopeful, I told him: ‘Be careful, it’s a big transition.’ “But he raised it. And finally he had no luck, he found me at Bleus and I told him the same thing,” the coach smiled.

“He gets through things without putting more pressure on himself.”

“But he gave satisfaction. He is a boy who is aware of what he can do, who knows the efforts he has to make. He overcomes things without putting more pressure on himself,” Patrick Arlettaz is satisfied.

A success on the field with the French XV, but also in the life of the group according to Paul Boudehent, his new teammate in the national team: “Posolo adapted very, very quickly. He has been in the group for a few days, a few weeks,” But we really have the impression that it has been there longer. He has the maturity of a player much older than him,” said the third player.

Behind the scenes, he even received a standing ovation from his teammates after his debut against Ireland. But in the Marcoussis camp during training this week, Posolo Tuilagi seems quite discreet and reserved. “He is capable, like many islanders, of being quite reserved, modest in his feelings. He is very respectful, in that he was educated,” says Arlettaz.

A well-known family in world rugby

He received this particular education from his father: Henry Tuilagi, a Samoan international, who spent time at Perpignan from 2007 to 2015 (and before that at Leicester). Freddie, Alesana, Sanele Vavae, Anitele’a or Manu… there are many Tuilagi that have graced European lawns.

“They are forces of nature. In the world of rugby it is something, power in its purest form,” believes former Bleus captain and also second row Pascal Papé. “There is no muscle behind this, it is a well-made nature that makes them like this and makes them dominate.”

And Posolo is no exception to the rule of Tuilagi genes. “He has an extraordinary size. Like his brothers but with something more. He has constantly evolved, with a physique different from the others. He has always had this mobility that he currently has,” confirms Emmanuel Rodor, coach in Perpignan. who trained Posolo Tuilagi in under 14s.

When I was little I avoided “sweets on friends’ birthdays.”

At that age, the future French international already weighed… 1m80 and 90kg. “He was surprising compared to the others. He worked a lot on his physique. He gained weight very quickly, he quickly understood that he had to be careful,” confesses the trainer. “When he was little he abstained from eating sweets on his friends’ birthdays, he was careful. His parents followed him a lot in this,” he continues.

A few years later, Posolo Tuilagi experienced a rapid rise. From the USAP training center to the A team, from the youth ranks of the Bleus to the French XV. Last year he participated in particular in the under-20 world title. “His great qualities? He destroys everyone,” simplifies Hugo Auradou, second starter alongside him during the last U-20 World Championship and current player in the Paloise Section. “The more the games were anticipated, the more present he was. I think he is someone we can go to war with,” he adds.

“When a guy like that gets the ball, no defender can stop him.”

This Sunday he will most likely experience his first start in Blue. And Italy will, according to Pascal Papé, have to take into account the presence of this type of squad in the French starting XV. “You’re scratching your head! They are so powerful that you have to take them well, otherwise you can fall asleep quickly. When a guy like that takes the ball, no defender can stop him, you have to implement a strategy.” “He is someone who plays a lot after contact, who goes behind the defender’s shoulder,” specifies the former Stade Français player.

In the second row, Posolo Tuilagi should be lined up alongside Racing 92 player Cameron Woki. It is Paul Gabrillagues, starter during the first two games of this Six Nations, who could pay the price and leave the group called by Fabien Galthié. But while waiting for the return of Toulouse Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou (yet another phenomenon that the team wants to see in action), Posolo’s story continues. He should maintain the legend of the Tuilagi.