Dallaglio: Sarries and ERC both at fault for Venter farce
ENGLAND great Lawrence Dallaglio says European chiefs and Saracens are both to blame for Brendan Venter’s farcical post-match interview.
Deadpan Sarries director of rugby Venter’s bizarre exchange after last weekend’s Heineken Cup defeat to Racing Metro 92 has become an internet sensation and earned the South African a warning from European Rugby Cup (ERC) officials.
It is the latest episode in a simmering dispute between the Premiership club and the governing body.
“We want rugby in the headlines for the right reasons. All parties will probably think they haven’t come out of this with huge credit,” Dallaglio told City PM “It seems to be part of an ongoing wider dispute. Both parties have upset each other. I don’t think Saracens made the situation any smoother by refusing to send their captain to the Heineken Cup launch.”
Venter is set to leave his role in January and become technical director, relocating to South Africa in the process. And Dallaglio added: “As director of rugby you don’t really want to get involved – just coaching is hard enough.
“Brendan Venter has done a great job there and it’s not the ideal way to sign off.”
Venter this week admitted the interview showed his “mischievous side”. He said: “It is a game. It is not life and death. I didn’t insult anybody and nobody got hurt. “