SA-born bruiser challenges France lock to 'bully' Boks

SPOTLIGHT: A former SA Under-20 champion has laid the challenge to a French forward to ‘bully’ the Boks ahead of their clash at the Stade de France this weekend.

Former France lock Paul Willemse says his successor at international level, Emmanuel Meafou, can become “the bully” the team needs as Les Bleus prepare to host South Africa in the Nations Series.

The 27-year-old Meafou, who weighs an imposing 145 kilograms, is set to make his 10th Test appearance in this weekend’s highly anticipated repeat of the 2023 World Cup quarterfinal in Paris.

The highly physical Springboks return to the Stade de France for the first time since going on to lift the Webb Ellis trophy on a fourth occasion two years ago.

The Pretoria-born Willemse made the bruising, ball-carrying role his own for France during a five-year Test career before retiring at the age of 32 in September.

Meafou has inherited his No.5 jersey for Les Bleus and is tipped to make a major impact by the man he replaced.

“The more experience he [Meafou] gets, I’d like to see him becoming the bully and becoming the classic enforcer on the field,” Willemse told AFP on Monday.

“I think he has everything he needs to get there. I’m really excited to see what he can do in the future.”

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Willemse represented South Africa’s U20s, winning the 2012 Final against the Baby Blacks at Newlands before moving to France with Grenoble and then Montpellier.

He made the last of his 32 France appearances in February 2024 and played his final club game eight months later.

The highlight of his career came when Les Bleus clinched the Grand Slam in 2022 – their first Six Nations title in over a decade.

Since hanging up his boots, he has turned his attention to his sports supplement company, bookings as a guest speaker and coaching line-outs at fourth-tier side Nimes.

“I’m slowly starting to get some direction going into what I want to do and what I want to become now, because it’s really difficult to find a new dream,” Willemse said.

“I’m still not convinced about becoming a professional coach because I’m not keen on the lifestyle, in terms of never having a weekend and then also living by a contract.

“And then having the stress of if somebody gets fired, it’s going to be you first on the chopping block.

“I’m not convinced, but I must say I really am enjoying the fact that I go there. It’s helped me a lot when I was in a bit of a dark place mentally.”

The 2.01 metre former lock will be at the Stade de France on Saturday, at the ground for his first France game since retirement, but his loyalties will not be split.

“The French team, that’s my teammates. That’s the guys I played with. That’s the guys I flipping chased dreams with, shared dreams with and achieved awesome things with them,” Willemse said.

“There’s no doubt in my mind. I’ve bled for the jersey. I’ve sacrificed for the jersey. So the French team is always going to be me.”