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Paris - Stade Francais scrumhalf Will Genia says it is imperative that Matt Giteau plays for Australia in the upcoming Rugby Championship and be released by Toulon.
The former Reds star commented on Toulon and the ARU's fight over Giteau, saying that not all French clubs have the same policies and Genia's own club were happy to let him train.
"The thing with being over in France is that each club is different. My club was obviously very willing to let me come back and train and play, and Toulon are very different. It depends on each individual's club," Genia told the Canberra Times.
"(Giteau's influence) It's huge. You saw the impact that he had with the guys at the World Cup, on the field but more off the field, people probably don't realise that.
"When you see someone like him, 33 years old, done everything, huge over in France and in Europe for Toulon. To see him still working incredibly hard to be the best that he can be, it's something that really inspires you. Just having an experienced guy around you calms the others around him.
"That influence and that aspect to having him come back, people tend to forget and some people want to criticise (bringing back players), but you'd rather have him here than not.
