Brendan Venter tells his Saracens side to shape up or ship out

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The club's South African director of rugby has overseen an overhaul of the squad this summer and is desperate to dispel their image as under-achievers.

The 1998 English Cup remains the only major trophy Sarries have won since the advent of professional rugby and the club have not finished in the Premiership's top three for a decade.

Venter said: "The players know that if they don't put in the effort they will not stay at Saracens very long. They know exactly what we want to achieve.

"I can't do anything about the baggage of the past. When I took the job I explained that I expected to get results and this is not a three-year or five-year project."

Venter succeeded Eddie Jones midway through last season - when Sarries finished ninth - after the former Wallaby coach became unhappy with the influence of the South African investors who now own 50 per cent of the north London outfit.

The resulting shake-up of the squad caused concerns among players and supporters but Venter has insisted he is not creating a South African franchise in English rugby.

As the squad trained at Wembley - venue of their 12 September league clash with Northampton - Venter said: "The claims about bringing in a whole lot of South African players was rubbish. But, yes, we brought in some South Africans, who I knew and were available.

"This club needs stability after so many changes of coach [eight in seven years] and one of the reasons I didn't let Eddie Jones's coaching staff go is because they are great people."

However, Venter's attempt to dispel the idea he is heading a South African club is not helped by the free newspaper for ex-pats circulating in London which describes the club as SAracens - using the country's initials.

That is not surprising given the club have brought in Ernst Joubert, Frik Venter, Schalk Brits, Derick Hougaard, Mouritz Botha, Justin Melck and Ethienne Reynecke to join South African compatriots Wikus van Heerden and Neil de Kock.

Venter has also chosen to take Sarries to Cape Town next week for three warm-up games.