Saracens rugby director Brendan Venter says the Soane Tonga’uiha ordeal will not overshadow Sunday’s Premiership play-off semi-final with Northampton.

The 28-year-old Tonga prop pulled out of a deal to move to Vicarage Road and decided to stay with Saints.

Venter told BBC Three Counties Radio: “What’s done is done. We know that it was the right move that he didn’t come in the end.

“We don’t even think about Soane anymore. It’s irrelevant.”

Tonga’uiha’s collapsed move to Vicarage Road intensified the rivalry between the clubs with Saracens accusing Northampton of bringing the game into disrepute.

But Venter is intent on concentrating on his own side’s recent form, having just won at Leicester for the first time in 33 visits.

“There’s a great belief in our team at the moment. We’ll do the same things, just even better,” he said.

“I think we must be able to compete with Northampton in all facets.