Pisi a key man in Fotuali’i switch to Northampton Saints

Pisi helped persuade his Samoa team-mate that Northampton was the place to be.

Fotuali’i will move to Saints from Welsh outfit Ospreys this summer, bolstering the scrum-half department at Franklin’s Gardens.

And centre Pisi, who is Northampton’s reigning player of the year, believes his countryman is capable of having a big impact.

“He’ll bring a lot of experience and a lot of physicality,” said Pisi. “He’s a really exciting player and it’s a good thing for our team.

“He asked me how it was over here and all I gave him was good comments about Northampton.

“He enjoys the team and he’s seen the environment, and hopefully when he comes to Northampton he’ll excel as he is at the moment.”

Pisi has been a breath of fresh air at the Gardens, playing with a smile on his face and remaining ever-happy off the pitch, too.

And the former Clermont Auvergne player says Saints fans and players can expect more of the same from Fotuali’i.

“He’s kind of like me,” said Pisi.

“He keeps a smile on his face all the time, he has good banter with the boys and he’ll bring something to the team next year.

“We want to be the best team in the world and we want to compete with other clubs, so to be the best we’ve got to try and get the best players and see how they work out with those we have got at the moment.”

Pisi and Fotuali’i will be working under the tuition of Alex King next season, with the attack coach joining from Clermont this summer.

And Pisi knows exactly what the former Wasps fly-half will bring to the party, having played under him in France.

“I worked with Alex King at Clermont and in his past career with Wasps he’s won so many Heineken Cups and Premierships and hopefully his experience can filter down to us here at Saints.”