The Saracens head coach, Brendan Venter, yesterday criticised England's "amazing" decision not to include any players from his club in their 44-strong squad to tour Australia and New Zealand next month. Venter said Martin Johnson had "got it wrong" in terms of midfield selection for the two Tests against the Wallabies.
Venter is particularly upset on behalf of the South African-born inside-centre Brad Barritt who, he said, has been deemed by England to be "too small" for Test rugby. With Steve Borthwick injured and Alex Goode and Andy Saull having to be content, like the 23-year-old Barritt, with a Saxons call-up for the Churchill Cup, Sarries could win the Guinness Premiership title this month without sending a single representative on England's subsequent senior tour.
"I find it amazing that, out of 70 people [in two squads] we've only got four who are deemed good enough," said Venter, who is convinced his team will be serious contenders for the Premiership title if they beat Northampton in their semi-final on Sunday at Franklins Gardens. "It's a good idea to send young players like Alex and Saully on the Saxons tour but Brad Barritt, in my opinion, is an international player. He's got all the attributes but they've come up with the excuse that he's too small. He's bigger than me and things haven't changed that much in 10 years."
The South Africa-born Barritt is 6ft 1in – three inches taller than Bath's Olly Barkley, who has been chosen for the senior tour. "I said to Martin: 'I think you've got it wrong,'" said Venter, who is a former Springbok centre. "Brad's not only been magnificent for us but he's everything you'd want in an international: a very low error rate, a brilliant defender, passes the ball beautifully, can kick the ball out of hand, a great communicator and recycles the ball well. He was our best player at Leicester. Unless they haven't selected Brad for another reason, like his ears are too big, they should just say nothing. I just think he's a special rugby player."
The perceived snub has added to Saracens' desire to follow away wins at Northampton and Leicester with another victory over the Saints. Venter, however, has all but ruled out Borthwick's chances of featuring in the Premiership final, should his side reach Twickenham at the end of the month. "Maybe there's a chance but I doubt it," said Venter, suggesting Johnson was on surer ground in having opted to leave his captain at home, to recuperate from knee trouble. "I think England have made the right decision."
The Saracens chief executive, Edward Griffiths, has called on Premier Rugby to provide more appropriate viewing positions for coaches at away grounds, following complaints by Leicester supporters last weekend that Venter had blocked their view by repeatedly leaping to his feet. "I think it's ridiculous in a professional sport that a visiting coach is made to sit among the home team's season-ticket holders," said Griffiths. "Just imagine Sir Alex Ferguson sitting amongst Chelsea season-ticket holders at Stamford Bridge. It wouldn't happen."
Sarries also chose yesterday to announce new sponsorship deals with Nike and the satellite navigation company Garmin, while confirming that the former All Black scrum-half Justin Marshall is to retire from the game. Marshall, 36, won 81 caps for New Zealand, and will embark on a new career next month as a television pundit with Sky Sports NZ.
