DUBAI // Italy’s chances of finally becoming a serious force in the Six Nations have been boosted by the recruitment of a coach who succeeded in domestic rugby where even Eddie Jones failed.
Brendan Venter, Italy’s new defence coach, turned around a failing Saracens side, and set in motion the transition that has seen the London club become European champions.
It was a transformation that had proved beyond Jones, who had two stints with a club who were conspicuous for underachievement before they started on their present ascent.
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Venter, who is also a qualified doctor, took over from Jones as Saracens director of rugby in 2009. Alex Goode played under both, and he thinks Venter’s force of personality could help transform Italy into a “dangerous” proposition.
“He was working with a tough organisation,” Goode said of Jones’ spell at Saracens between 2007 and 2009. “It was a failing organisation. That sounds harsh, but it is true.
“It took characters like Brendan and Ed Griffiths [the Saracens CEO] together to achieve that [improvement]. Somebody so supremely confident, that even if he got sacked, he could just go and become a doctor. He didn’t worry about that, so he could implement radical change.”
Six Nations fixtures and UAE kick-off times
• Saturday, February 4: Scotland v Ireland (6.25pm), England v France (8.50pm)
• Sunday, February 5: Italy v Wales (6pm)
• Saturday, February 11: Italy v Ireland (6.45pm), Wales v England (8.50pm)
• Sunday, February 12: France v Scotland (7pm)
• Saturday, February 25: Scotland v Wales (6.25pm), Ireland v France (8.50pm)
• Sunday, February 26: England v Italy (7pm)
• Friday, March 10: Wales v Ireland (11pm)
• Saturday, March 11: Italy v France (4.30pm), England v Scotland (7pm)
• Saturday, March 18: Scotland v Italy (3.30pm), France v Wales (5.45pm), Ireland v England (8pm)
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