Venter’s in a rage despite Sarries win
SARACENS went back to the top of the Guinness Premiership with a sixth successive league victory – then walked straight into a roasting by coach Brendan Venter.
The South African led a heated post-match dust-down after Sarries made heavy weather of beating rock bottom Leeds at Vicarage Road.
Fiji centre Kameli Ratuvou saw them through with tries either side of half-time, but it still wasn’t enough to satisfy Venter, who warned his side must improve. “We were really poor out there,” the City.A.M columnist admitted. “We made it harder work than it should have been. We had opportunities in the first half that we butchered, and when you have opponents like Leeds, ready to scramble and fight for everything, you need to do better. I am not happy with that.
“Our discipline was disappointing and we need to play better than that. We did play some good rugby first half, but we didn’t finish.”
In all fairness to Sarries, the match was hindered by the award of no fewer than 27 penalties by over-officious referee David Rose – fly-halves Glen Jackson and Ceiron Thomas duly obliged with two apiece early on.
Ratuvou put Sarries on top before Derick Hougaard’s penalty ensured Thomas’ two further kicks and a drop goal were mere consolation.