Brendan Venter is estatic with the progress of the Saracens squad ahead of their first pre-season friendly with Bayonne in France next Wednesday
"Saracens head to France next week for the first of their warm-up matches and Director of Rugby Brendan Venter is delighted with the results of the squad in the first three weeks of pre-season training.
With some of the speed and fitness testing results described as ‘phenomenal’ by Venter, his squad heads to France next week for matches against Bayonne and Bordeaux Begles and looking ahead to a season that also sees them take on the best of Europe in the Heineken Cup.
Venter said: “Things are going exceptionally well. We have the base of last season to build on along with some exciting new faces joining the squad. The players have come back in terrific shape with some phenomenal results in the first few days of fitness testing and they continue to prove they are an exciting group of players.â€
Venter also revealed that technology has had an important part to play in pre-season with the players’ performance throughout every session measure by GPS and heart rate monitors.
“We can tell how far and where they are running and at what intensity they are working in every session,†he explained. “We even keep stats on the contributions they are making in our fitness games and it’s important to constantly measure things.â€
Sarries face seven warm-up matches ahead of the start of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season on September 4 against London Irish at Twickenham and Venter explained he will be utilising the entire squad during this time.
He added: “We have a squad system at Saracens so actually, when you work it out, the players will be getting around three and a half games each. Not only is it going to be exciting to see the development of our existing group of players, but also the new faces and those guys from the Academy who are really showing us some great results.â€
Sarries return to France in October for the opening round of the Heineken Cup against French Champions Clermont Auvergne in a group that also includes Racing Metro and former champions Leinster.
Venter added: “We’ve said from day one that this is a process at Saracens and the next step is competing against the best in Europe. Last year we didn’t do that, so that is something we are really looking forward to. We are very privileged to be at this club with a fantastic group of players and a coaching staff who are such a positive group of people. It’s a rel pleasure coming to work.â€
"Saracens head to France next week for the first of their warm-up matches and Director of Rugby Brendan Venter is delighted with the results of the squad in the first three weeks of pre-season training.
With some of the speed and fitness testing results described as ‘phenomenal’ by Venter, his squad heads to France next week for matches against Bayonne and Bordeaux Begles and looking ahead to a season that also sees them take on the best of Europe in the Heineken Cup.
Venter said: “Things are going exceptionally well. We have the base of last season to build on along with some exciting new faces joining the squad. The players have come back in terrific shape with some phenomenal results in the first few days of fitness testing and they continue to prove they are an exciting group of players.â€
Venter also revealed that technology has had an important part to play in pre-season with the players’ performance throughout every session measure by GPS and heart rate monitors.
“We can tell how far and where they are running and at what intensity they are working in every session,†he explained. “We even keep stats on the contributions they are making in our fitness games and it’s important to constantly measure things.â€
Sarries face seven warm-up matches ahead of the start of the Aviva Premiership Rugby season on September 4 against London Irish at Twickenham and Venter explained he will be utilising the entire squad during this time.
He added: “We have a squad system at Saracens so actually, when you work it out, the players will be getting around three and a half games each. Not only is it going to be exciting to see the development of our existing group of players, but also the new faces and those guys from the Academy who are really showing us some great results.â€
Sarries return to France in October for the opening round of the Heineken Cup against French Champions Clermont Auvergne in a group that also includes Racing Metro and former champions Leinster.
Venter added: “We’ve said from day one that this is a process at Saracens and the next step is competing against the best in Europe. Last year we didn’t do that, so that is something we are really looking forward to. We are very privileged to be at this club with a fantastic group of players and a coaching staff who are such a positive group of people. It’s a rel pleasure coming to work.â€
