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London - Brendan Venter saw Saracens mark his final match as director of rugby with a 12-6 Premiership win over London Irish on Sunday and then predicted a bright future for the club.
Victory, secured by four Owen Farrell penalties, moved Saracens - last season's runners-up - into second place in the Premiership table in what was Venter's last match before he returns to South Africa for "family reasons".
But the former Springbok, who played for London Irish, intends to stay involved with Saracens as their technical director.
Saracens, owned by millionaire businessman Nigel Wray, have often been accused of trying to 'buy' their way to success through high-profile overseas signings rather than developing a club culture similar to that of Premiership champions Leicester.
"The problem at Saracens was too much chopping and changing. We have a five-year plan in place, and it is ongoing," said Venter.
"I may no longer be rugby director, but I'll be in telephone contact regularly, and I will be flying back to England regularly to attend games.
"We have academy players pressing for each position in the team, so it's not about bringing in some big-name stars, it's now about the development of the team from within," the former South Africa centre explained.
Venter added: "As I expected of my former club, this was a tough game. Irish are a good side, very organised, and they never lose badly, it's always just by a few points.
"But if you look at our fly-half, Owen Farrell, he is going to be special, and that really excites me."
Sunday's match also saw Wales centre Gavin Henson continue his return to rugby union and Venter said: "Gavin Henson is only beginning to know what Saracens is about.
"We are about intensity, and we are 18 months into that process, whereas Gavin has only been here a few weeks."
Venter, who will be succeeded by former deputy Mark McCall with former rugby league and union international Andy Farrell - Owen's father - moving up to head coach, also paid tribute to journalists and broadcasters who cover the 15-man game in England.
"I leave very happy to say in my time the English rugby media, I have never been misquoted, and that's something I really appreciate," added Venter, whose post-match comments have often landed him in trouble with rugby chiefs.
Defeat was London Irish's tenth straight loss but Exiles coach Toby Booth insisted they were not far from ending that depressing sequence.
"That's miles closer to ending this run. The Premiership is tough, and you have to work very hard. You need energy and intensity to put things right, and we have displayed that in the last three games.
"I do wonder at some of the questions I'm asked. We don't go out to throw a game. It's just that you need to deal with setbacks.
"We simply have to keep on track, keep doing the right things."
Victory, secured by four Owen Farrell penalties, moved Saracens - last season's runners-up - into second place in the Premiership table in what was Venter's last match before he returns to South Africa for "family reasons".
But the former Springbok, who played for London Irish, intends to stay involved with Saracens as their technical director.
Saracens, owned by millionaire businessman Nigel Wray, have often been accused of trying to 'buy' their way to success through high-profile overseas signings rather than developing a club culture similar to that of Premiership champions Leicester.
"The problem at Saracens was too much chopping and changing. We have a five-year plan in place, and it is ongoing," said Venter.
"I may no longer be rugby director, but I'll be in telephone contact regularly, and I will be flying back to England regularly to attend games.
"We have academy players pressing for each position in the team, so it's not about bringing in some big-name stars, it's now about the development of the team from within," the former South Africa centre explained.
Venter added: "As I expected of my former club, this was a tough game. Irish are a good side, very organised, and they never lose badly, it's always just by a few points.
"But if you look at our fly-half, Owen Farrell, he is going to be special, and that really excites me."
Sunday's match also saw Wales centre Gavin Henson continue his return to rugby union and Venter said: "Gavin Henson is only beginning to know what Saracens is about.
"We are about intensity, and we are 18 months into that process, whereas Gavin has only been here a few weeks."
Venter, who will be succeeded by former deputy Mark McCall with former rugby league and union international Andy Farrell - Owen's father - moving up to head coach, also paid tribute to journalists and broadcasters who cover the 15-man game in England.
"I leave very happy to say in my time the English rugby media, I have never been misquoted, and that's something I really appreciate," added Venter, whose post-match comments have often landed him in trouble with rugby chiefs.
Defeat was London Irish's tenth straight loss but Exiles coach Toby Booth insisted they were not far from ending that depressing sequence.
"That's miles closer to ending this run. The Premiership is tough, and you have to work very hard. You need energy and intensity to put things right, and we have displayed that in the last three games.
"I do wonder at some of the questions I'm asked. We don't go out to throw a game. It's just that you need to deal with setbacks.
"We simply have to keep on track, keep doing the right things."
