Former France lock Paul Willemse says Emmanuel Meafou can be the physical “bully” Les Bleus need against the Springboks in Paris on Saturday.

The Pretoria-born enforcer, who retired in September due to concussion, knows all about fronting up against South Africa’s heavy hitters, and believes his successor has what it takes to meet the challenge head-on at the Stade de France.

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

The 27-year-old Meafou, a 145kg powerhouse, has quickly grown into a central figure in the French pack and will make his 10th Test appearance in Saturday’s blockbuster rematch of the 2023 World Cup quarter-final – the last time these sides clashed in Paris.

That night, the Boks edged France in a titanic contest before marching on to a record fourth world title.

FRANCE NO 9: Boks stole our World Cup

Willemse, who represented South Africa at U20 level before settling in France and earning 32 Test caps, wore the No 5 jersey that Meafou now owns. During his five-year stint in blue, he helped Les Bleus to a Grand Slam triumph in 2022 – their first Six Nations crown in over a decade.

Having retired at just 32, Willemse says he’s content with the timing of his decision after ongoing concussion symptoms convinced him to step away for good.

“I still have some concussion symptoms which are improving,” he admitted. “I’ve got some problems with my eyes moving side to side or turning around quickly, and just normal head pain. It’s more confirmation that I stopped at a good time before having really long-term symptoms.”

JASPER: Forward battle will decide Paris Test

Now focused on his supplement business and part-time coaching at Nîmes, Willemse says he’s found a new rhythm in life, though he remains deeply connected to the French team.

“The French team, those are my teammates. Those are the guys I chased dreams with and achieved awesome things with,” he said. “There’s no doubt in my mind I’ve bled for the jersey. I’ve sacrificed for the jersey. The French team is always going to be me.”

MORE: Lood ready to disrupt French weapon

– AFP

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images