Springbok and Italy defence consultant Brendan Venter says he will return to South Africa before the teams’ match on 15 November.

The former Bok centre has joined the national side in a consulting capacity as their new defence and exits coach.

Venter will work with the Boks ahead of their June Test series against France, and could stay on with the team for the Rugby Championship. He will return to Italy to help them prepare for their November Tests, but insists he won’t coach against the Boks, as he did last year when the Azzurri recorded a shock 20-18 win in Florence.

‘I will head back to South Africa for that week,’ Venter told Netwerk24. ‘I told the Italians that despite the victory last year, it was not a pleasurable experience coaching against the Boks. Italy completely understand it.

‘I’m not going to talk to South Africa or Italy about each other. I was initially approached  to help the Boks for the June series against France and agreed to do it. There were no talks about what could happen afterwards.

‘It’s not something I do for the money, I’m helping because Allister [Coetzee] is a friend and because I’m patriotic.’

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Photo: Carl Fourie/Gallo Images