AND SO another All Black leaves France, his bank balance all the healthier, his reputation all the poorer. On the all- time chart of the best value-for-money Southern Hemisphere signings in the Top 14, Julian Savea is nowhere to be seen.
His first season at Toulon amounted to 18 starts which worked out at a little north of €50,000 per game. That the deposed champions of Europe signed him on a contract running into seven figures is a matter of fact.
Mourad Boudjellal said so at a time when Savea’s performances might have tempted Monsieur Le President to play down the investment ra...