Belief at Sarries still high
SARACENS may have lost last weekend to Clermont Auvergne but that has not knocked the team’s confidence at all.
We played very well against the French champions but just did not take our opportunities.
If we want to return to winning ways in our second Heineken Cup fixture, against Leinster tomorrow, we are going to have to take our chances. And we will not be altering our approach to the game.
We will be taking the game to them again, as we did in France. The new laws give an advantage to teams with the ball in hand and we need refs to do that. Last week he started well but there were one or two issues.
PRIORITY
Playing in the Heineken Cup throws up the question of whether, as a coach, you make success in Europe or the Premiership your priority. For us, both are equally important and we are very keen to do well in them.
We will make one or two changes to the team tomorrow for a match we are playing at Wembley, rather than Vicarage Road.
Ernst Joubert comes back for Kelly Brown, on rotation, Deon Carstens is struggling with a neck problem, and Hugh Vyvyan is set to return.
Finally, we have all been boosted this week by five players committing their futures to Saracens. Joubert, Schalk Brits, Alex Goode, Brad Barritt and Andy Saull all signed new contracts and we’re very happy. They are our future and it’s very exciting.
Brendan Venter is director of rugby at Saracens. For match tickets visit www.saracens.com or telephone the box office on 01727 792800.