When he arrived in the Pink City in December 2018, the scale almost gave up the ghost.
Under the bewildered eyes of the Toulouse medical staff, the needle stopped at… 162 kg!
Emmanuel Meafou was then 20 years old, had just left the Melbourne training center to join that of the Rouge-et-Noir.
After hesitating to fly to the United States to participate in the NFL Draft, the must of American football.
A bet.
Add a colossus - it rises to 2.03m - in the engine, a weapon of mass destruction in the pack.
A bet quickly won.
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Exactly a year later, in December 2019, he played his first match with the first team.
More than forty will follow for increasingly noticed ravages.
Because if he has lost weight - he weighs today, by his own admission, between 140 and 145 kg... - he has gained endurance without losing any of his hardness on impact.
Because, like his compatriot Will Skelton at Stade Rochelais, he obviously impresses with his ability to gain meters on the front line, but also, and above all, his ability to move, to be present in all the hot spots, to repeat the tasks devolved to his post: cleaning the rucks, scratching the balls, chaining the offensive tackles.
On May 7, during the Champions Cup quarter-final, Munster scrum-half Connor Murray can attest to this.
At only 23 years old, “
Manny
” (his diminutive) Meafou has therefore already made himself indispensable.
Bringing his physical density in a pack of forwards more runner-tackle than hunter-gatherer.
A particular talent which could soon benefit from the… XV of France.
For months, he repeats it in each interview.
His “
dream
” is to wear the blue jersey.
“I can't see myself wearing another national jersey than that of the Blues.
France has become my home.
»
Emmanuel Meafou
“
I have been in France for more than three years.
I asked for the French passport.
I have already validated the A2 diploma in French, but I still need to progress in French to obtain it.
If I manage to get it, I will be able to apply and, perhaps, achieve my goal of playing the 2023 World Cup with France…
”
William Servat, the coach of the tricolor forwards who had coached him at Stade Toulousain, is the precious relay of his desire with the coach.
Fabien Galthié also called him to "
know my state of mind, my aspirations
".
Ready to turn your back on the Wallabies without the slightest regret?
“
There are already a lot of top-tier second-rows in Australia.
And today, I can't see myself wearing another national jersey than that of the Blues.
France has become my home.
It is this country that gave me the opportunity to play at the highest level.
I built my life here where I planned to stay for a long lease.
I still plan to play in the Top 14 for ten or fifteen years…
”He has not finished wreaking havoc…
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