Why it's wrong to stop Brendan Venter telling it like it is
The Daily Mail's Chris Foy launches a defence of Brendan Venter's infamous interview and says both sides need to take a step back from the dispute.
"There is a certain irony in the fact that Brendan Venter has provided rugby with yet another talking point by saying next to nothing in a post-match interview. Saracens’ out-going director of rugby has a habit of rattling cages and he was at it again last Saturday. He delivered a series of mumbled, non-answers on Sky – in protest at a huge European Rugby Cup fine last month for publicly criticising referees, and inspired by the film Mike Bassett, England Manager. From the out-pouring of angst and recrimination that has followed, you would think the ex-Springbok centre had kidnapped a kid or drowned a cute kitten. A dash of perspective is in order here.
"First and foremost, there is undoubtedly an element of pettiness at play. This circus sideshow has all the hallmarks of a lovers’ tiff – with both sides wanting to have the final word. And so ERC duly stewed on Venter’s rambling, verbal version of a two-fingered gesture, then delivered a statement condemning his behaviour, having already privately acknowledged that they had no scope to take action as, strictly-speaking, he had done nothing wrong. Their riposte merely served to prolong the pantomime when they should have realised that this was merely an example of a feisty character demonstrating his frustration in a way that was harmless enough and unlikely to be repeated."
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