Image caption, Saracens lost to Sale despite having numerical superiority for 27 minutes of the first half ByAndrew RaeburnBBC Sport, London & South East Published 19 minutes ago Former England scrum-half Danny Care says "some of the powers that be" at Saracens have "let the players down" after a turbulent start to the season.
An opening weekend 40-38 win at Leicester was followed by a 21-17 home defeat by Sale, the build-up to which was marred by headlines made by returning director of rugby Brendan Venter.
He reportedly refused to perform a series of media obligations, putting Saracens at risk of fines amid conjecture his job title had been changed to 'head of rugby culture and wine consultant', although the club have since clarified he is now head of culture and technical director.
"They're putting the players under more pressure with off-field antics", Care told the BBC's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"The lads don't want a part of any of that, they just want to play.
"There was all this chat of Sarries pushing for top four again, and having this amazing team and culture again.
"I just think some of the powers that be at the top have let the players down." Figure caption, Venter’s Vintage: Listen to the latest episode of the Rugby Union Weekly New Saracens chief executive Ed Coetzee confirmed on Friday that Venter's job title, which differs to the one he was said to have when appointed to succeed Mark McCall, includes "significant media duties".
Venter duly spoke to TNT Sports before the match with Sale and said he refused the director of rugby job title because he had "absolutely nothing" to do with other departments of the club, such as the academy and women's section.
The 56-year-old also insisted the wine consultant reference was not a joke aimed at the media.
"Our whole theme this year was all about wine," Venter said.
"Everything in our theme was about a blend and getting the blend right." But Care said the stories around Venter's role looked to have had a negative impact on the pitch.
"Sarries have done some amazing things in the last year or so, bringing a new energy, a new vibe," he said.
"But then it just feels like they're taking the mickey out of everyone by [saying] 'he's not doing interviews today' and taking fines and changing his job title.
"You can only do that when you are so much better at rugby than everyone else and at the moment, they're not.
"[The performance against Sale] looked flat.
It looked quiet.
I don't blame the players.
