Emmanuel Meafou, a long-awaited guest by the XV of France

The giant second line from Stade Toulouse was called up on Wednesday to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament.

This was perhaps the most anticipated name on the first list of the year. A little over two weeks before the launch of the 2024 Six Nations Tournament, Emmanuel Meafou was called by Fabien Galthié and the staff of the XV of France, Wednesday January 17, to prepare for the competition by joining the French group.

Naturalized French in November, just a few days after the World Cup final at the Stade de France, the 25-year-old Toulouse colossus will now play in the blue jersey and in a collective that awaits him.

An impressive physique

Emmanuel Meafou is one of those crazy stories that often characterizes naturalized players. Born to Samoan parents in New Zealand, he arrived in France in December 2018 after being spotted by Stade Toulouse and its training center director, Michel Marfaing. “I wrote: exceptional size, individual technique ++, ability to break the advantage line and play in contact”he remembered for West France in April 2023.

On the pitch, the Toulouse man stands out above all for his physique: 2.03 meters and 145 kilos, according to his club’s data. A physique on which he relies for his game. “He is very imposing, he is very rugby. We can play after him, play after contact, and above all, he breaks tackles. We have seen him since his arrival at Stade Toulouse, he is really very efficient”analyzes Dimitri Yachvili, former international and France Télévisions consultant.

“There are others like that in the world, but there are few of them who hit as hard and repeat their efforts. He is someone who impacts opposing defenses quite a bit. He hits”, explained in January 2023 his coach in Toulouse, Ugo Mola. Beyond his physique, Meafou also stands out for his efficiency on the line (24 tries in 90 matches with Toulouse, impressive statistics for a second line).

The Otahuhu native also has the advantage of still being at the start of his career. “VS is a quality: 25 years for a second line, it’s still youngassures Dimitri Yachvili. He’s not even mature yet, he still has room for improvement.” So many qualities that Emmanuel Meafou, pure number 5, will bring to the French XV group, taking a player of his size and skills, according to the former international scrum half: “We lack a powerful second line like that, even if we have Romain Taofifenua. A guy like him can bring that physical impact to get the upper hand on the opponent.”

A long-awaited arrival

If his presence on the list is so obvious, it is because he has gradually established himself as an essential choice for this team. DSince his first appearance in the red and black jersey, in December 2019 in the Top 14, his development has left no one indifferent. “Match after match, month after month, it has grown considerably at Stade Toulouse”, summarizes Dimitri Yachvili. This is evidenced by its number of starts, which has been constantly increasing for three seasons (11 in 2020-2021, 15 in 2021-2022, 25 in 2022-2023). In recent weeks, he has shown all his talent on the European scene, in the Champions Cup, during Toulouse’s three big victories (32 points difference on average).

However, Emmanuel Meafou’s adventure in blue initially came down to missed opportunities. Naturalized at the beginning of November, he was unable to be selected, within a few weeks, to play in the Rugby World Cup, even though the French XV had to deal with the withdrawal of another naturalized colossus, Paul Willemse, in the second line.

But his arrival also comes at a time when the Blues are starting a new cycle. “I can’t wait to play with the France team. We can do something incredible”he declared to France 3 Occitanie in November.

Already summoned to an extended group during the last Tournament, Emmanuel Meafou had discovered Marcoussis, and the Blues’ game project. He will be all the less destabilized as he will find many club teammates there. “IHe will have his bearings because there are a lot of Toulouse players who form the forward pack of the France team. Even if it’s only in the scrum, when you have Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Peato Mauvaka in front, it’s easier.”, notes Dimitri Yachvili. Enough to give yourself a dream start in this new adventure.