The Australian is coming to the end of a one-year contract in south-west France and appears to have exhausted the patience of his employers.

Roff was singled out for criticism by Biarritz coach Patrice Lagisquet after the team's 24-17 defeat by Agen last Sunday in the French championship play-offs.

"It is time that Joe Roff put an end to his holiday in France," said Lagisquet, who was visibly irritated by the player's display and replaced him early in the second half.

Lagisquet hinted that Roff could miss out on this weekend's crucial match with Bourgoin which could determine whether Biarritz reach the semi-finals.

His criticisms were echoed by the club's assistant coach Laurent Rodriguez, who bemoaned the form of a player who has won 70 caps for Australia.

"The Joe Roff who played for the (ACT) Brumbies in the southern hemisphere is not the same player who has come to Biarritz," Rodriguez told the French sports paper L'Equipe.

"Here, he thinks it's a holiday."

Roff joined the French side at the start of the season and has scored just two tries in 19 games, while kicking 23 penalties and 13 conversions.

Injury problems

But the 26-year-old has suffered with injuries, a three-week absence with a broken nose in March coming immediately after a month out with Achilles tendon trouble.

"It is very disappointing to hear these things being said by the coaching staff in the press," said Roff, who is likely to return home to Australia next season in a bid to win back his Wallabies place for the 2003 World Cup.

"There are lots of things that I would like to say to Patrice this week.

"I know I didn't play particularly well in the match, but I thought we could have won and I wanted to continue.

"We have not played well as a team and it was disappointing for everyone."