Paris (AFP)

At the Taofifenua, ask for Donovan!

The Racing 92 winger, from a large family of rugby players, has gone from anonymity to the gates of the XV of France in a few months and is now applying for a place for the Six Nations Tournament.

"We did not expect it to go so quickly. Donovan blew us away a little," told AFP the father of the young Racingman, Jean-Jacques Taofifenua, a former hooker who was part, alongside his Brother Willy, from the "Mammoths" of Grenoble in the 1990s.

This is because, before joining Racing 92 last summer, the young 21-year-old Métis with diabolical acceleration, had played only one match with Clermont.

Frustrated and eager to play, he migrated to the Paris suburbs to flourish.

"He had a little the balls to leave Clermont because he started there (in pro). But he had no certainties", explains his father.

Leaving a large displacement of the Top 14 for another is a risky bet for a neophyte.

Even more when the team in question already has a good troop of internationals able to evolve on the wings: the French Teddy Thomas, the Argentinian Juan Imhoff, the Irish Simon Zebo, the Australian Kurtley Beale ...

But the bet turned out to be a winner.

In twelve matches, for as many starts, this explosive player (1.79 m, 84 kg), very comfortable in duels, scored eight tries, including a hat-trick against Bayonne at the end of November.

- Called in December -

The performances of the U20 world champion (2019) - who can also play back - caught the attention of Fabien Galthié.

The coach invited him to prepare for the final of the Autumn Nations Cup.

Donovan Taofifenua was not selected among the young Blues who stood up to the vice-champions of the English world at Twickenham on December 5 (defeat 22-19 AD).

But Galthié has not forgotten him and invited him to the Nice internship, which began on Monday, preferring it to Montpellier Vincent Rattez (28 years old, 8 sel.).

If Teddy Thomas (22 sel.), His club partner, and Clermontois Damian Penaud (17 sel.) Are holders in power on the wings, the young Racingman has a chance to play to be in the twenty-three who will go in Rome on February 6.

To do this, he will need to oust the competition, namely the Toulonnais Gabin Villière (2 sel.), Who proved himself at the international level during the fall, and Rattez, returned to the game after the withdrawal of the Toulouse back Thomas Ramos.

"When I was called up to prepare for England, I was kind of the last winger called up. And there to meet up with Teddy, Damian and Gabin, it's special anyway. Everything is going very quickly there at the moment" , Donovan Taofifenua told Canal +.

- In selection with the cousins ​​-

Described as "discreet" but "very hardworking" by his Racing partners, the former Clermontois can count on his two cousins ​​to facilitate his integration into Blue.

Toulouse third line Selevasio Tolofua (23 years old, 1 sel.) Graced his first cap at the beginning of December in London and Toulon second line Romain Taofifenua (30 years old, 20 sel.) Has been in the selection since 2012. He is the son of Willy Taofifenua.

And his brothers, Sébastien and Killian, are also professionals, respectively in Toulon and Perpignan (Pro D2).

"His big cousin (Romain) considers Donovan as his little brother. With him by his side, it puts less pressure on him," said Jean-Jacques Taofifenua, who ensures that his toddler does not catch fire.

"I always tell him that nothing is taken for granted. We must continue to work as usual, continue to have fun while remaining at the service of the collective," he says.

A currency that has paid off so far.

© 2021 AFP