Saracens management letting players down, says Danny Care
Former England scrum-half Danny Care has criticised "powers that be" at Saracens for off-field issues impacting team performance.
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Former England scrum-half Danny Care has stated that "some of the powers that be" at Saracens have "let the players down" following a difficult start to the rugby season. The club experienced an opening weekend victory against Leicester, followed by a home defeat to Sale. The build-up to the Sale match was overshadowed by media reports concerning director of rugby Brendan Venter.
Care told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast that these "off-field antics" are placing additional pressure on the players. He commented that the team simply wishes to play, and that the management's actions have detracted from the club's aspirations for a strong season. Care believes that senior figures at the club have failed the players.
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Brendan Venter's role
Speculation arose regarding Brendan Venter's job title, with reports suggesting it had been altered to 'head of rugby culture and wine consultant'. Saracens chief executive Ed Coetzee confirmed on Friday that Venter's current role, as head of culture and technical director, involves "significant media duties". Mr Coetzee's confirmation came before the match against Sale.
Brendan Venter himself stated that he refused the director of rugby title because he had "absolutely nothing" to do with other club departments, such as the academy or the women's section. The 56-year-old also clarified that the reference to a wine consultant was not a jest, explaining that the team's theme for the year was centred on wine and achieving the correct blend.
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However, Danny Care suggested that the stories surrounding Venter's role appeared to have a detrimental effect on the team's performance on the field. He observed that the match against Sale looked "flat" and "quiet", attributing this to management rather than the players. Care noted that such actions, like refusing interviews and changing job titles, are only feasible when a team significantly outperforms all others, which he stated is not currently the case for Saracens.
Questions this report answers
+What has Danny Care said about Saracens management?
Danny Care believes that "some of the powers that be" at Saracens have "let the players down". He suggested that off-field controversies have placed additional pressure on the players and negatively impacted their on-pitch performance.
+What is Brendan Venter's current role at Saracens?
Saracens chief executive Ed Coetzee confirmed Brendan Venter is now head of culture and technical director. This role includes significant media duties. Venter stated he refused the director of rugby title due to a lack of involvement in other club departments.
+How have off-field issues affected Saracens' performance?
Danny Care suggested that off-field controversies, including speculation around Brendan Venter's role, have negatively impacted Saracens' on-pitch performance. He described the team's display against Sale as looking "flat" and "quiet", and blamed management for this.
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