Toulon boss admits he may have been overly critical of Julian Savea

Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has admitted he may have been 'too harsh' in his criticism of former All Blacks winger Julian Savea.

Boudjellal slammed Savea in February following Toulon's 19-10 Top 14 defeat to Agen saying "I'm going to ask for a DNA test. They must have swapped him on the plane [when he joined from the Hurricanes last year]. If I were him I would apologise and go back to my home country," 

"I've told him that he was free to go and wasn't welcome at Toulon any more," he added.

Boudjellal back-tracked on his criticism in an interview with French publication Midi Olympique.

"At one point, it was him or me! Quit paying someone as much … especially at that rate. I may have been too harsh with him, but I am someone excessive and whole. I never shower with lukewarm water," Boudjellal told the paper.

Savea has scored three tries in 22 appearances for Toulon, in a season where the club has struggled as they currently sit 10th in the Top 14 standings and have effectively missed out on a place in the Top 14 playoffs and the Champions Cup next season.