Emmanuel Meafou: 'We’re expected not just to win but win convincingly, that’s always the bar'

Meafou experienced those two last-four losses to their Irish rivals at first hand and shared in the misery of failing to extend their record haul of five Champions Cup titles.

Wed, 22 May, 2024 - 06:32

Simon Lewis

After two humbling semi-final defeats to Leinster in successive seasons, Emmanuel Meafou is confident the third Champions Cup encounter will be the charm for Toulouse in this Saturday’s final showdown at Tottenham Hotspur.

The Australian-reared lock whose five years since joining the Toulouse academy in 2019 have developed the 25-year-old into a fledgling France international second row, is as steeped in the culture of the French giants and their affinity with European rugby’s premier club competition as anyone born in the Pink City. Meafou experienced those two last-four losses to their Irish rivals at first hand and shared in the misery of failing to extend their record haul of five Champions Cup titles, which is why he sure Toulouse can right the wrongs of those Aviva Stadium reverses, when Leinster thumped his side 40-17 in May 2022 and 41-22 11 months later.