WEEKEND BREAKDOWN

REPORTS from France claim All Blacks winger Julian Savea has been booted out of Toulon after being told he is ‘no longer welcome at the club’. According to French media, Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has cut Savea loose after telling the winger he is not the player he signed last year. Throwing cash at big names from the southern hemisphere has been Boudjellal’s policy for some time and, while it did bring success a few years ago, it never felt right. The club have been a soulless, mercenary blight on the game and are now paying the price. IAN KEATLEY was in sparkling form on his debut for London Irish, scoring the first of the Exiles’ eight tries in their 52-22 hammering of Coventry. His great start to his loan deal at the Exiles was unfortunately cut short when he was forced off (to a standing ovation) with injury in the first half. The Munster 10 is joining Treviso at the end of the season but while that contract situation might be irreversible, Keatley looks like a player who could flourish under Kidney. He’d certainly be a more positive signing than the out-half they are reportedly chasing — Paddy Jackson.