Emmanuel Meafou adds to French injury woes before Six Nations

Toulouse’s 31-19 win over Bath in the Investec Champions Cup on Sunday came at a heavy price for the France national team as lock Emmanuel Meafou has been added to their injury list.

In a match where flanker Anthony Jelonch has since been ruled out of the Guinness Six Nations with an ACL injury, the lock also picked up a knee injury, according to French outlet L’Equipe. 

Unlike Jelonch, the 145kg second-row is only expected to miss the opening match of the Championship, where Les Bleus host Ireland at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille. Then again, though it is only the opening match, that could well be the defining contest of the Championship if recent history is anything to go by.

Richard Cockerill on the Georgian coaching opportunity

Richard Cockerill on the Georgian coaching opportunity

Meafou did not team up with the France squad at their training base in Marcoussis today, despite the arrival of his Toulouse teammates, L’Equipe have reported.

After making France’s Six Nations squad last week, Meafou was in line to win his first cap for his newly adopted country against the reigning champions having become a French citizen last year after being born in New Zealand and raised in Australia.

The 25-year-old produced a statement try-scoring performance against Bath in the Champions Cup, one which would have propelled him into Fabien Gatlhie’s reckoning if he was not already.  He may have to wait at least until their trip to Murrayfield a week later to make his debut against Scotland.

Toulouse’s victory meant they secured top seeding in the round of 16, where they will host Racing 92 in April.