Venter returns to SA
1 Dec 2010
Brendan Venter will step down from his Saracens director of rugby post and return to South Africa for family reasons.
The former Springbok has been part of the revival of the English club with a strong South African flavour, taking them all the way to the Premiership final last season.
He will still help the club in a technical director capacity, but will not be based in St Albans any longer. Mark McCall, who was the first-team coach, will be promoted to director of rugby.
In early November, Venter was fined €25 000 (approximately R230 000) of which €15 000 was suspended, for criticising the standard of refereeing following Saracens’ European Cup defeat by Leinster. He was subsequently prevented from talking to the media by Saracens’ top brass.
34 Comments
1 Dec 2010, 09:36 am
This Dragon is a “hothead”!
1 Dec 2010, 09:38 am
Whaaaaaat?
“If you came here after entering a competition you are entered, we are resolving this bug.”
1 Dec 2010, 09:40 am
I wonder if a ref will be fined if he says “so and so” is a useless coach!?
1 Dec 2010, 09:45 am
Venter could add a lot of value to the SA coaching fraternaty. He calls a spade a spade and is a hard rugby man but still focusses on developing the person and not just the player. Cheetahs probably do not have the cash to pull him in but he could add wonders to a Free State setup that lacks something to compete consistently at S15 level.
1 Dec 2010, 09:49 am
I remember Venter and Pieter Mulder as two laaities playing center for OVS during the early nineties. The combonation of brawn and brains got through most of the bigger unions defences.
It is a real pity that injuries to both of them at different times prevented the combination to flourish at test level.
1 Dec 2010, 09:55 am
The Springboks need a backline coach!
1 Dec 2010, 09:59 am
@garth(garth) : The boks need a coach.
1 Dec 2010, 10:04 am
No invovlement for this guy please. I’ll do a Keo and say I have it on good authority that he is not just a bit, but quite a big d00$
1 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
@pompies2(pompies2) : Maybe but I would rather have a knowledgable d00s than the golfing idiot **** …
1 Dec 2010, 10:07 am
**** = Richard Muir
1 Dec 2010, 10:11 am
At the highest level (playing for the Springboks) I remember Brendan Venter being a very one-dimensional player back in his day. I can’t comment on how good he was at provincial level because I don’t honestly remember him playing (couldn’t have made a big impression).
I do remember that for the Boks he used to constantly be involved in niggle off the ball and had a very short fuse. I would even go so far as to say he was quite a dirty player. Certainly not dirty in the Bakkies mould but a niggling sort player.
I also seem to remember his defense being rather poor one-on-one and him leaking a few soft tries falling off tackles.
I don’t think being a good player translates into being a good coach, administrator or commentator though, and from what I gather he’s had a lot of success coaching – so maybe he’ll be good for our domestic game. Before anyone suggests ‘future Springbok coach’, let me just say that I for one wouldn’t ever consider him for the position. We need someone whose more pragmatic….look at Pieter De Villiers – he’s probably not done us any favors on the international circuit…we don’t need another hot head…
1 Dec 2010, 10:25 am
@bananas(bananas) : Do you know how well his backline did @ Saracens? They were critized earlier in the season for their boring rugby. The ground out vicotries with penalty kicks.
1 Dec 2010, 10:47 am
@pompies2(pompies2) : What do you expect with Hougaard at 10?
Some of the games that I saw impressed me greatly – Brad Barrit straightened the line beautifully and ran with pace into spaces; not the crash ball type of play he employed at the Sharks.
In general I thought that the backline play was of a high standard. Anyway, how many teams in the premiership are known for their excellent backline play? They play in mud pools most of the time.
Brendan Venter will not take the **** that will be flung his way in the SA setup. If he decides to become involved, I predict a very bumpy ride
1 Dec 2010, 11:20 am
Warren Brosnihan is the worst commentator to have ever called a rugby match.
1 Dec 2010, 11:32 am
Neil – In RWC99 Brendan Venter came up with the drop goal gam eplan which knocked out England 44-19. Not a bad acquisition to have in the Boks!
1 Dec 2010, 11:37 am
@PiXel_NiNja(PiXel_NiNja) : no way! that whining, biased welsh rubbish commentator IS the worst commentator EVER! so parochial and bitter!
1 Dec 2010, 11:56 am
brendan
was one of
the more
intelligent
rugby players
we ever
had
not flashy
and yes a
bit of
a niggler
but as
a coach
he can only
add value
however
he won’t
fit in
with the
crazy
saru
culture
of brainlessness
1 Dec 2010, 12:15 pm
@Transformation(Transformation) : joel stransky is the most irritating commentator alive.
1 Dec 2010, 12:19 pm
Brendan player brings back memories of a clueless center hopping around in one spot and shortly thereafter diagnosing himself with a broken leg.
Everyone called him a playmaker but I just never saw that.
As for Pieter Muller – he did play alongside Brendan for SA. He was the prototype for the bruising center and would smash you in the tackle. I wonder what he’s doing these days?
1 Dec 2010, 12:47 pm
Brendan Venter was not a bad center although he tended to run sideways when he had the ball.
The best commentantors in Rugby Union are the Aussie dudes, Kearnsey, Kafe, Greg and them, knowledgable, funny and never a dull moment with them.
For those who switch to Xhosa commentary would have realised that Kaunda Ntuja is not bad at all. His funny in fact with his expressions. I am not sure about boet’Makhaya.
Thank you Supersport for introducing Xhosa commentary.
1 Dec 2010, 13:01 pm
@rangerman(rangerman) : I agree! Gatkruiper.
Venter coming home is good news. He is highly rated as a coah in Europe. Let’s hope we can utilize his experience here.
1 Dec 2010, 13:09 pm
Any coach that picks Derick hougard, has to be krap.
1 Dec 2010, 13:14 pm
Worst ever commentator is definitely Warren Brosnihan, followed by Joel Stransky then Garth Wright. Noteable mention must be Owen Nkumane.
Best is Matthew Pierce.
Best Studio Guest/Presenter ‘of late’ is Ashwin Willemse followed by Bob Skinstad and Ray Mordt.
Worst Studio Guest/Prsenter ‘of late’ is Garth Wright followd by Breyton Paulse (why must he add ‘…tjie’ after everyone’s name), with Warren Brosnihan bringing up the rear. Noteable mention is Beth Terbalanche.
1 Dec 2010, 13:18 pm
@rangerman(rangerman) :
Andy Capostagno!!!!!! Worst Ever!
1 Dec 2010, 13:23 pm
@Panache and Aplomb(Panache and Aplomb) :
Worst Sudio Guest/Presenter must be Owen Nkumane
Best Studio Guest/Presenter must be Naas Botha
Worst Commentator: Andy ‘One Tone’ Capostagno
Best Commentator is still Hugh Bladen
1 Dec 2010, 15:28 pm
I always say to my friends that Bros must be be shooting steriods just before he comes on air, he always sounds too hyped. I dont mind him though for my own laughing pleasure.
Garth Wright is the worst in all categories.
Naas Botha overtime developed a personality and a sense of humour.
1 Dec 2010, 16:35 pm
Gavin Cowley and Garth Wright are the best commentators.
I’m tired of Hugh Bladen. Matthew Pierce quite good too.
1 Dec 2010, 23:51 pm
Team of the year, player of the year, coach of the year, junior player of the year…
Full house of IRB awards to NZ, plus McCaw becomes the only man to win it three times, and two of them back to back.
2 Dec 2010, 00:51 am
McCaw ? is that a bird …..
2 Dec 2010, 04:10 am
Is it a plane?
No! It’s Superman!
2 Dec 2010, 11:45 am
TheTackler – But was reduced to a pale face child by the French rwc2007 1/4′s, tee hee!
2 Dec 2010, 12:42 pm
Brendan Venter can come help with a promising Cheetahs side anyday…. No matter what some bloggers think, few have anything positive to say about players from other provinces anyway.
Venter is a respected defensive, and attacking backline coach, and was a fine player as well. He can help mould a promising, but raw Cheetahs squad:
1. Coenie Oosthuizen – Marcel vd Merwe/Kevin Stevens
2. Adriaan Strauss – Rayno Barnes/Skipper Badenhorst
3. WP Nel – Kobus Caldo
4. Hendrik Roodt – Francois Uys/Izak vd Westhuizen
5. Wilhelm Steenkamp – Walti Vermeulen
6. Brussow – Johan Wessels/Floors
7. Juan Smith – Phillipvd Walt/Davon Raubenheimer
8. Johnson – Frans Viljoen
9. Sarel Pretorius – Tewis de Bruyn/Piet van Zyl
10. Naas Olivier – Sias Ebersohn
11. Jongi Nokwe – Phillip Snyman/Juries
12. Andries Strauss – Morgan Newman/Barry Geel
13. Robert ebersohn – Corne Uys/Wilmaure Louw
14. Phillip Burger – Rayno Benjamin
15. Hennie Daniller – Riaan Viljoen
Solid pack, with very balanced loosies, and promising locks, I think there will be enough possession, and grunt…
Amongst the backs there is Andriess Strauss, who played very well last year for the sharks, maybe just being the foil for young Robert Ebersohn to realise his undoubted potential.. There is enough pace out wide, with the flamboyant Burger also back (no Benjamin hand off’s this year lol) and enough versatility with Snyman and Uys having played wing as well as centre. Juries and Burger can play wing, as well as Fullback… all in all, it looks good…
Go the Cheetahs!!!
3 Dec 2010, 22:48 pm
I hope someone at the WPRU has taken note of the fact that Venter will be home in the Cape soon.
3 Dec 2010, 23:33 pm
venter is so overrated as a coach – just as he was as a player.
to me he is in the same category as robbie fleck…
scramble-headed player and…
judging by the performance of the wp/stormers backline this season…..
given their big name players…….
a friggen useless coach.
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