Publications
Partners
Dublin - Saracens' Brendan Venter found himself in trouble for saying too little, rather than too much, following the former Springbok's latest brush with rugby disciplinary procedures on Monday.
Venter was warned by tournament organisers European Rugby Cup over his conduct after appearing to give deliberately non-committal answers in a post-match television interview following Saracens' 24-21 European Cup loss to French club Racing Metro on Saturday.
He refused to give any opinions in the minute long exchange and often answered a question by repeating it in an exchange reminiscent of the comedy film 'Mike Bassett, England manager' which tells the story of a hapless fictional boss of the national football team.
Saracens chief executive Edward Griffiths added fuel to he fire by labelling Venter's remarks as "an ERC interview".
Venter's responses were widely regarded as his way of responding to the fact he'd been hit with a 25 000 euros fine for being "inappropriately critical of ERC, the tournament, match officials and the sport of rugby union" following his team's Pool Two game against Leinster at Wembley in October.
But as for his post-match comments following the Racing defeat - now something of an internet favourite amongst rugby fans - ERC were unimpressed, saying: "ERC would like to point out that it expects key representatives of clubs participating in its tournaments to engage with the media in a co-operative and respectful manner.
"It is therefore disappointed by Mr Venter's approach throughout the interview.
"ERC has asked Saracens to confirm that Mr Venter will not adopt the same approach, or one in anyway similar, when giving media interviews before or after Friday's European Cup Pool 3 game between Racing Metro 92 and Saracens."
Venter, who is leaving Saracens next month to return to South Africa, did have 15 000 euros of his Leinster fine suspended.
He was furious then with the performance of French referee Christophe Berdos in Saracens' 25-23 defeat by the Irish province.
He warned the International Rugby Board that the game was in danger of being ruined by confusion over the interpretation of the breakdown area.
Venter told reporters: "Before the European Cup began, I asked if we would have a conference so all the officials from abroad were in tune as to the new interpretations of the laws.
"Instead, we got some European referees in the Premiership, but there is a real danger that if we don't take action going into a World Cup year, the game of rugby is going to die, be killed stone dead because the public won't come to watch."
Venter previously missed Saracens' Premiership final loss to Leicester at Twickenham in May after being hit with a touchline ban by English officials following a fracas at the eventual champions' Welford Road ground a couple of weeks earlier.
And in January, he received a suspended coaching ban and had to apologise to referee David Rose after criticising his handling of a separate Premiership encounter between Leicester and Saracens.
