All Blacks giant tipped to have 'massive impact' at Top 14 club

Former New Zealand lock Sam Whitelock will have a "massive impact" on Pau, the French club's flyhalf Joe Simmonds said before Saturday's Top 14 trip to Toulon.

Former Crusaders second-row Whitelock, 35, won two Rugby World Cups before ending his Test career with defeat in this year's final to the Springboks in October.

The All Blacks' most-capped player has signed a two-year contract but is only set to make his debut next month for this season's surprise packages after arriving in south-west France this week.

"He's going to have a massive impact," former England under-20s playmaker Simmonds told AFP this week.

"He's so experienced, he's won so many games and trophies with the All Blacks and the Crusaders.

"I'm really looking forward to learning off him," Simmonds added.

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With his move to Pau, Simmonds brought down the curtain on a successful seven-season stint at local club Exeter Chiefs, which included a Champions Cup and English Premiership double in 2020.

Off the field in France he has enjoyed hikes in the Pyrenees, the beaches in nearby Biarritz and even a Champions League game across the Spanish border with San Sebastian's Real Sociedad.

"I felt like it was the right time for me to challenge myself and try something different," the 26 year-old said.

"To get out of my comfort zone a bit," he added.

Since arriving in Pau, Simmonds has started all eight of Pau's league games, kicking 103 points to become the Top 14's leading scorer as the unfancied outfit sit second in the table.

"It's why I like being a 10," Simmonds said.

"Having the pressure of making sure you're kicking the points. Hopefully I can keep on going, it's only early days," he added.

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