Technical director held court at club’s training base, comparing rugby to winemaking and claiming interviews ‘steal my joy’

Brendan Venter began his long-awaited public appearance with head bowed, uttering one‑word answers and with a general demeanour suggesting he would rather be anywhere else. By the end he had compared Prem Rugby to an “autocracy”, mentioned Ukraine and Gaza, and detailed an inspirational talk he recently gave at a school. Of course there was wine to talk, too.

An audience with Saracens’ technical director and head of culture is rarely boring and the latest was worth the wait.

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