CONFIRMED: Ireland to face the wrath of France’s 150kg teenage sensation

Posolo Tuilagi, the son of Samoa legend Henry, is in line to make his France debut after Fabien Galthie named him on the bench for Friday’s game.

The rising star, who helped the French U20 side win the age-grade world championship last year, has quickly made a name for himself in the Top 14.

Weighing 149kg (over 23st), Tuilagi’s power at close quarters is obvious and he has been a difficult person to bring down for defenders in France’s top tier.

Illness

Fellow gargantuan second-row Romain Taofifenua has fallen ill and has subsequently been ruled out of the Six Nations match against Ireland.

As a result, the 19-year-old returned to the main group on Wednesday and has been selected among the replacements now that Taofifenua has failed to make it.

Locks weighing 20st or more have become popular in France, with Australian duo Will Skelton and Emmanuel Meafou among those to become some of the best in Europe.

Meafou was due to make his debut for Les Bleus on Friday ever since he became eligible in December 2023, but an injury sustained in the Champions Cup has ruled him out of this clash.

That means Paul Willemse, who weighs 20st, has returned to the French XV for the first time since the World Cup warm-ups in August last year.

Injury

Injury ruled Willemse out of the global tournament and that lack of ballast potentially cost the French, with the comparatively light Cameron Woki and Thibaud Flament starting the quarter-final against South Africa.

Although Taofifenua came off the bench in the second half of that encounter, head coach Galthie evidently sees the value of having at least two big locks in the squad.

As a result, Tuilagi is the natural replacement for Taofifenua, despite his tender years and shorter stature.

At 6ft 4in, he is much smaller than Skelton and Meafou, which has led some to wonder whether his future lies in the back-row, but ultimately those two are rarely used for jumping in the lineout anyway.

His weight is helpful in the scrum while he could be used in the midfield off first phase ball to get his side over the gain line.

Team

France’s revised line-up: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Yoram Moefana, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Paul Gabrillagues, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Peato Mauvaka, 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Julien Marchand, 17 Reda Wardi, 18 Dorian Aldegheri, 19 Posolo Tuilagi, 20 Paul Boudehent, 21 Cameron Woki, 22 Nolann Le Garrec, 23 Louis Bielle-Biarrey

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