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Toulon raid Super Rugby again for playmaker
By Online Editors
Toulon have raided the southern hemisphere yet again with Reds playmaker Duncan Paia'aua the latest set to join Mourad Boudjellal's club.
Last week the club announced that All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth would be moving to the south of France..
Midi Olympique reported that Paia'aua will move to the club in 2019, with Boudjellal seeing attributes of Matt Giteau in him.
Now those rumours have been confirmed Rugby.com.au with the player set to move at the end of the Super Rugby season.
The money on offer is said to have been the deciding factor behind the move, and it leave the Reds short of depth following Quade Cooper's departure to Melbourne.
Paia'aua was drafted into the Wallabies squad for a game with the Barbarians in Sydney in October 2017, but hasn't been part of Michael Cheika's plans since with Bernard Foley, Kurtley Beale, Matt Toomua and Reece Hodge ahead of him in the pecking order when it comes to the 10 and 12 jerseys.
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Paia'aua will link up in the backline with Milner-Skudder. who's joined on a three-year deal
Milner-Skudder has played 13 tests for the All Blacks since bursting onto the scene in 2015. He starred during the All Blacks’ run to their second consecutive Rugby World Cup but has been unlucky with injury in recent times after undergoing two shoulder surgeries.
Toulon's other big signing, Eben Etzebeth, has made 75 appearances for the Springboks since 2012 and has represented the Stormers in Super Rugby over 50 times.
Toulon currently have three former All Blacks on the books in Julian Savea, Liam Messam and Malakai Fekitoa, while Etzebeth will join former Springboks Marcel van der Merwe, Juandre Kruger, Jacques Potgeiter and JP Pietersen.
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Latest Comments
The New Zealand performance in the return fixture in 2016 was filthy. A lot of Irish supporters were pretty shocked by it, viewed it as de facto cheating just to avoid another defeat.
Also shocked by the abuse to Ireland, captain, vice-captain and spectators after the full time whistle in Paris defeat, last match.
Sledging is sledging, but that happens during the game and targetting spectators should be completely out of bounds.
The Irish public used to enjoy these matches, even in defeat. Now they are necessary but unpleasant, because NZ apparently cannot accept or respect successful challengers.
Go to commentsThanks for the analysis Nick, thought provoking as usual. Couple of queries though, in the pic where you've circled Williams bind , I'm pretty sure it shows Stuart's knee on the ground, surely that's a NZ penalty? Also having had the chance to watch it again the All Black scrum seeems to improve after halftime, but before either England or the All Blacks replace their props. Not sure if that was the result of Tuipolutu coming on or some halftime tips. Either way this is only Williams second international season, so he'll be better for the experience.
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