Why I'm the new Bok doc - Brendan Venter

Former American president Theodore Roosevelt said during his most famous speech that "the credit belongs to the man in the arena. It is not the critic who counts."

My decision to join the Springboks in a consulting capacity as their new defence and exits coach is because I want to be part of the solution and offer my assistance in trying to solve the problems affecting South African rugby.

There has been plenty of speculation doing the rounds regarding my Springbok appointment. My role as a coaching consultant is to add value within the set-up by utilising the skills I have acquired.

Some people may find it hard to understand but I will never sign a long-term contract with an organisation. I don't want to be a professional rugby coach on a full-time basis. I love being a doctor and have been running my medical practice for 17 years. Medicine was the career I chose when I was playing rugby, and because some believe I should rather be a full-time rugby coach I won't change my mind.

I don't need a long-term contract in order to be committed and I don't understand the accompanying obsession. I'm blessed to have different facets to my life and I approach each position with the same duty of care.

When I am in camp with South Africa, Italy or London Irish, I hire a locum doctor and fully commit my time and energy to the relevant cause. And I can only be in one place at one time.

As a professional, I take enormous pride in my work. I have never consulted a rugby team and not taken responsibility. I have never been anywhere andnot left it in a better place, because I believe in treating people well. Wherever I have gone in my coaching career, I've been accountable and to suggest that I don't take responsibility is absurd. For example, when I was working with the Sharks in 2015 I did not apportion enough time to defence in the pre-season, which left Gary Gold's team unprepared defensively. I duly took responsibility. A big part of my coaching success is that I don't fear being fired. If I fail to add value I move on and somebody else tries. There are no strings attached, no payout is required.

Turning to the second Springbok training camp which ended this week: Three days with my coaching colleagues and the players in Stellenbosch fortified my belief that we have immense potential in South Africa. The trick is to pull together so Springbok rugby can again become a force to be reckoned with.

I'm aware results last season were not up to standard but everything is now geared towards a better organised, more effective environment. I enjoyed the players' energetic approach at training and Allister Coetzee's inclusive approach was apparent. I worked with him at the Stormers and he is very good at accommodating different personalities and points of view. He canvasses diverse opinions with a level head and can steer them in one direction.