Guinness Premiership
Venter facing further disciplinary trouble
Scrum.com
May 10, 2010
Saracens boss Brendan Venter confront the officials, Gloucester v Saracens, Guinness Premiership, Kingsholm, Gloucester, England, April 3, 2010
Brendan Venter could face further trouble after clashing with Leicester fans © Getty Images
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Saracens director of rugby Brendan Venter may face further disciplinary action after riling sections of the Welford Road crowd during his side's Guinness Premiership win over Leicester on Saturday.

Venter, who earlier this season was handed a suspended ban for an outburst about referee David Rose, angered the home crowd by standing to celebrate his side's tries and discuss the game with referees' assessor Brian Campsall, apparently blocking the view of certain fans. Venter reportedly also bowed and waved to the fans before leaving for the changing rooms at half-time, aggravating the situation.

"It was brilliant and good for them," he told The Leicester Mercury. "I couldn't see in one of the corners [so I stood] and they started shouting at me. I didn't like that. If people shout at me, I don't react well. I don't even shout at my own players. They told me to relax but I told them that I was relaxed. They are an unbelievably passionate crowd. They are a 15-point crowd for their team and they deserve credit for that. It was actually quite funny and all good fun. I was just hoping we would win."

There is another disciplinary worry for Sarries, who face Northampton in the Premiership semi-finals next Sunday, as outstanding hooker Schalk Brits was seen to give the home crowd a one-fingered salute as he left the field with a head injury. Brits, who scored an intercept try, has since apologised to the fans.

"I was a bit groggy so I can't remember exactly what was said, but it was not acceptable to do what I did and I went to the crowd afterwards to apologise to them. I am sorry for what I did and they accepted my apology," he told The Times.

Saracens also angered Northampton in recent weeks while celebrating their victory at Franklin's Gardens in the penultimate round of the Premiership, but Venter was keen to play down the situation on that occasion.

"Northampton made a few comments about the extent of our celebrations when we won there, but we sing our song when we win," he said. "It was a fantastic day."

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