Ma'a Nonu and Quade Cooper criticised by Toulon owner

Outspoken Toulon owner Mourad Boudjellal has delivered some stinging criticism of his high-priced foreign imports Quade Cooper and Ma'a Nonu.

Cooper and Nonu joined the reigning European champions to great fanfare in the summer but neither has had the early impact Boudjellal hoped for when he opened his cheque book to sign them.

Toulon have built their success on signing top international players but their stuttering start to this season - they are fourth in the Top 14 and second behind Wasps in European Champions Cup Pool 5 - has left their owner lamenting the loss of past greats like Jonny Wilkinson and former All Black captain Tana Umaga.

"It's difficult to go from foie gras to pâté," Boudjellal told Quinze Mondial. "For now, Cooper is not what I was hoping for. But we have to also give him time.

"Right now if I say that I'm not happy with our stars, it's only because we expect a lot. It's true that in our imagination, we want them to fly across the pitch.

"We've been spoiled somewhat by [Tana] Umaga and then Wilkinson, so maybe we need to give them time."

Nonu was also on the receiving end of some harsh words from Boudjellal in an interview in Le 10 Sport as he said the All Black centre's performances had been "disappointing… particularly in defence".

 "If I told you that I'm happy with him, I'd be lying," he said, before adding he was not yet a "lost bet".

Another former All Black to draw Boudjellal's ire was 26-year-old fly-half Tom Taylor, who joined Toulon in the summer after three seasons in Super Rugby with the Crusaders.

Boudjellal said: "I have the impression that Tom Taylor, an All Black, trembles each time he has a penalty attempt."