We bring you the final part of Brendan Venter’s interview by Fred Ollows after his Kenyan visit last week…
IMPALA: You are a practicing medical doctor. What is your speciality? How has medical practise influenced your rugby?
VENTER: I am a qualified and practising medical doctor having been to University of Orange Free State. I enjoy the scientific, evidence based approach to the game. I scour games for critical statistics. It is an approach that is well established in Saracens culture now.
(He shows me the Key Performance Indicator performance of Saracens in the match versus Sale Sharks whish the Sarries won 15-10. He contrasts that with the previous week when they lost 13-22)
We’re permanently diagnosing problems and assigning solutions. There is always something to learn from any base profession. Away from the initial practise, we are now encouraging professional players to pursue education to broaden their perspectives.
IMPALA: What of rugby’s influence in your medical career?
VENTER: The core rugby values have been a great input to my medical practice. Those values include integrity, discipline and respect which are central for me as a health professional. The two other values – solidarity and passion, gives the people orientation that is necessary in an environment where one will only be successful if (s)he cares deeply for people.
Because of rugby, I have a keen interest in family, and I sometimes undertake marital counseling, honesty and diligence. By the way, diligence is the one common denominator characteristic of all successful people (even some who aren’t that pleasant…)
IMPALA: What are your pet aspects in the game?
VENTER: I particularly enjoy territorial play, attention to detail – best seen in execution of skills and plans, and defensive structures. All the best teams show these all the time. When successful teams flounder, like we did against the London Irish, my former team, the answers will tend to be found there too.
IMPALA: What is your view of the Saracens Global Network?
VENTER: This is a great opportunity to test out the rugby capacity for camaraderie and to create lifelong relationships. I have enjoyed the Impala Saracens hospitality but it is great to learn that rugby concerns are typically the same everywhere. The coaches tend to speak almost the same language.
We are in this to give something of the professional Saracens culture as we are to learn about that of the Saracens affiliates. It is nice to learn that Impala Saracens has a passionate leadership well- schooled in the game. This is bound to be a great relationship.
I will take back the good impression that Impala had of Owain (Davies, Saracens’ Sports Development Manager for Education, Training and Inclusion), a certified IRB Coach Level III coach who came in, last December, just in time for the derby versus Kenya Harlequins. Maybe his passion had something to do with our own great rivalry with London Harlequins… (Laughs)
IMPALA: Final remarks?
VENTER: Impala Saracens future is looking good. It has a good partner in Resolution Insurance who have been kind to the team in this rebuilding phase. They will surely gain prime benefit at the maturity of the team. There is a group of well talented players and the leadership has put together some valuable rugby initiatives. What remains is for the Impala Saracens explosion to happen.
IMPALA: Thanks Brendan for coming. It was great having you around.
VENTER: Thank you Fred. I really enjoyed my stay here, including getting stuck in Nairobi National Park and having to push the car off the mud. But, Nairobi has some excellent restaurants. When next in Stellenbosch, do pass by and we can talk some more…
