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With the start of the Premiership season just ahead, rugby365 columnist Jon Harris looks at the contrasting ways in which Saracens and Newcastle have set about 'rebuilding' themselves - which method will ultimately prove to be successful?

There is an interesting case study developing in the Guinness Premiership. One which only time will evaluate. The future of two Premiership teams, both in rebuilding phases, has been charted on vastly different courses, ultimately with the same result but with different expectations regarding results.
 
Biltong flavoured Saracens are like a gazelle on speed, they want results and they want it now, if not before, while the Newcastle Falcons are willing to build up to success, allowing their recipe to draw flavour and taste. After all fast food and a home cooked meal both serve the purpose, fast food maybe even initially sending the tastebuds on a joyride, but the slow cooked home meal is far better in all aspects. Strange analogy, but is it true in the example these two sides present?
 
So which is the better route to take?
 
Saracens have brought in the strong South African flavour possibly as a progression of their SA ownership. Eddie Jones was unceremoniously dumped half way through the season, and whatever we may say, we'll never truly know the reasons for this. The man is good, but since his departure from his post as Australian coach, he has not covered himself in coaching glory. Other than his advisory role to Jake White's World Cup winning squad, he was a failure with the Queensland Reds as an example.
 
They have brought in Brendan Venter, a man who knows the English game exceptionally well, having played there for a number of years and then becoming head coach of London Irish. He is highly regarded and has been a specialist coach with the Stormers over the last two years.
 
Venter has been on a buying spree, replacing departed players mainly with South Africans, who because of the exchange rate come cheaply. Like most Sanzar players, they see Europe as a challenge and also a boost to the bank account, so joining a respected man like Venter at Saracens is a natural move. Home away from home, so to speak.
 
Joining Neil de Kock and Wikus van Heerden this season are Ernst Joubert, Frik Venter, Schalk Brits, Derrick Hougaard, Mouritz Botha, Justin Melck and Ettienne Reynecke. Brad Barritt the Sharks-reared England Saxon is also at the club. Venter has publicly said that results are expected immediately and that any player not buying into the goals of the club, will find himself unemployed very quickly. But is this a sound route to take? Admittedly, the squad will not be solely made up of South Africans, but will these players, professional as they may be, easily settle into a new style of rugby and conditions to make an immediate impact?
 
Venter should know, as we have already said, but perhaps his exuberance clouds his memory, and he may be expecting too much out of these players. The weather conditions are harsh by South African standards, and we're not talking match day rain and cold. The style of rugby is different, the underfoot conditions softer requiring a different game plan. A man like Schalk Brits, who in the opinion of this writer is vastly overrated, may find himself battling. He is a flash player who does not do the basics of a hooker well, preferring to grab the limelight with his loose play. His running in the open may be curtailed quite a bit by the wet field conditions and he will take strain in the front row, where he has never been comfortable, this area of the English game being tough and uncompromising.  
 
Venter has a tough task on his hands and the club has shown their hand from the beginning. They are rebuilding, but the question of whether rebuilding can be fast forwarded will be answered by the end of the season. What is obvious is that results only satisfy some of the demands, and sustainability needs to be guaranteed. Has Saracens now created the impression that it is an SA Old Boys club, and if so, how much will it effect their player recruitment and youth programmes?
 
Of course, this may also be a thinly veiled disguise in the formation of an ex-pats club along the line of London Irish. With such a large contingent of South Africans being UK based nowadays, the club may evolve into being London SA. 
 
By contrast, the Newcastle Falcons, having also had their cupboard cleared of talent, have taken a slower approach to restoring the club to glory. Assistant coach, British & Irish Lions centre Alan Tait, has stated that the club are in a rebuilding phase which is not expected to bring trophy glory within the first three years.
 
This policy is the most logical. A mercenary approach requires a continued adherence to that policy. Buying players may deliver short term success, but that player will always be on the lookout for bigger pay checks, which will be forthcoming with the perception of his role in reversing flagging fortunes, so off he'll go, or at least cost the club more to keep him.
 
A return on investment will also be expected, so the young homegrown talent may be overlooked for the expensive import, resulting in further disillusion.
 
The slow build up involving the development of talent, which in the short term will not ensure legions of new support, will in time pay dividends. The talent identified and developed by the club will mature and render outstanding service and return the loyalty. The key and challenge is to survive while the rebuilding takes place, to ensure that the available talent is competitive and capable of delivering sufficiently.
 
The debate is not one that can be proved in the short term. Yes, we may at the end of the season be able to say if Saracens's approach has worked, but the Newcastle approach can only be commented on in about three seasons, if we're still interested in the debate.
 
Logic and history suggests that the Falcons will be a top team in the premiership in three to four years time. We will be seeing players come through as they mature and develop as a result of the faith shown in them.
 
Meanwhile London SA will still be doing well, not because their policy is successful, but rather because there will always be a steady stream of South African talent willing to move to them for what equates to a healthy salary when every Pound is multiplied by twelve.
 
Of course, and this is another debate, their youth programme could be teeming with the offspring of ex-pats, playing for a club with a strong homebrewed flavour.

by Jon Harris