Describing media obligations as “autocratic”, Brendan Venter insists Saracens head coach Joe Shaw is the man to front up while he works on “something special”.
The former Springbok addressed his latest controversies in the spotlight during a press junket alongside Shaw.
Venter had been reluctant to take on the media responsibilities after previously receiving several fines for comments made during post-match press conferences.
His role has been changed three times since he returned to StoneX Stadium at the start of the season to succeed Mark McCall.
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“I have the desire as a human being not to want to talk, because it’s not supposed to be about me, it’s about a team,” he said. “Joe’s input is way more valuable than my input.
“And if we get obsessed and we get into an argument and we fine a club, that for me does not make sense.
“It sounds like something we do in an autocratic land, in a country, not in a democracy where people have got the right to say: ‘This is not what I want to do.’”
He also recently explained his role as head of culture and technical director of the club, having been director of rugby and, briefly, wine consultant.
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This after a £5,000 (R109,000) fine imposed on Saracens by Prem Rugby after Venter failed to fulfil media duties expected of the club’s lead coach.
“It [media duties] stole my joy the previous time,” he added. “I wanted to have a low profile. That was my desire. I want to coach or help coach the rugby team. I do not want to be doing interviews.
“It’s not because I think I’m better than anybody else. To be put over as an arrogant person who thinks he’s better than doing interviews … it’s not at all that.
“I love coaching rugby. I love working with players. This is not a team with a ceiling, this is something special, I have not come all this way to be average.”
Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images
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