Six Nations: Italy defence gets a boost with new coach Brendan Venter

Brendan Venter brings his Saracens credentials to the Italian defence for Six Nations. David Rogers / Getty Images

DUBAI // Italy’s chances of finally becoming a serious force in the Six Nations have been boosted by the recruitment of a coach who succeeded in domestic rugby where even Eddie Jones failed.

Brendan Venter, Italy’s new defence coach, turned around a failing Saracens side, and set in motion the transition that has seen the London club become European champions.

It was a transformation that had proved beyond Jones, who had two stints with a club who were conspicuous for underachievement before they started on their present ascent.

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Venter, who is also a qualified doctor, took over from Jones as Saracens director of rugby in 2009. Alex Goode played under both, and he thinks Venter’s force of personality could help transform Italy into a “dangerous” proposition.

“He was working with a tough organisation,” Goode said of Jones’ spell at Saracens between 2007 and 2009. “It was a failing organisation. That sounds harsh, but it is true.

“It took characters like Brendan and Ed Griffiths [the Saracens CEO] together to achieve that [improvement]. Somebody so supremely confident, that even if he got sacked, he could just go and become a doctor. He didn’t worry about that, so he could implement radical change.”

Six Nations fixtures and UAE kick-off times

• Saturday, February 4: Scotland v Ireland (6.25pm), England v France (8.50pm)

• Sunday, February 5: Italy v Wales (6pm)

• Saturday, February 11: Italy v Ireland (6.45pm), Wales v England (8.50pm)

• Sunday, February 12: France v Scotland (7pm)

• Saturday, February 25: Scotland v Wales (6.25pm), Ireland v France (8.50pm)

• Sunday, February 26: England v Italy (7pm)

• Friday, March 10: Wales v Ireland (11pm)

• Saturday, March 11: Italy v France (4.30pm), England v Scotland (7pm)

• Saturday, March 18: Scotland v Italy (3.30pm), France v Wales (5.45pm), Ireland v England (8pm)

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