Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous location in the world, but its squad delivers an abundance of thrills and drama.
In a city famous for shoe production, you might expect kicking to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors choose to retain possession.
Even though playing for a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a style typical of the greatest Gallic exponents of attacking rugby.
After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have won the Premiership and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.
They sit atop the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, seeking a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for various teams in total, had long intended to be a manager.
“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “Yet as you mature, you understand how much you love the game, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at a financial institution doing work experience. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was tough – you grasp what you possess and lack.”
Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson guides a squad ever more filled with internationals: key individuals were selected for England versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, down the line, will assume the No 10 jersey.
Is the rise of this outstanding generation attributable to the club's environment, or is it chance?
“It's a bit of both,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a unit is definitely one of the factors they are so tight and so talented.”
Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by really interesting individuals,” he adds. “He had a big impact on my rugby life, my management style, how I deal with individuals.”
Saints demonstrate appealing the game, which proved literally true in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was a member of the opposing team beaten in the European competition in the spring when Freeman registered a hat-trick. He liked what he saw sufficiently to reverse the trend of UK players joining Top 14 sides.
“A friend rang me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We lack the budget for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He wants a fresh start, for the chance to test himself,’ my mate told me. That interested me. We met with Belleau and his English was outstanding, he was articulate, he had a funny side.
“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson states the young the flanker brings a specific vitality. Has he encountered anyone like him? “No,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s original but Pollock is different and unique in many ways. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”
The player's breathtaking score against their opponents last season showcased his freakish ability, but various his expressive during matches behavior have resulted in allegations of cockiness.
“He sometimes comes across as cocky in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “And he's not joking around constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I believe on occasion it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and great to have to have around.”
Hardly any coaches would admit to sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with Sam Vesty.
“Together share an inquisitiveness around diverse subjects,” he notes. “We maintain a literary circle. He aims to discover all aspects, wants to know each detail, desires to try different things, and I think I’m the alike.
“We converse on numerous things beyond the sport: films, books, ideas, art. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the landmark was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”
A further date in the French nation is approaching: Northampton’s comeback with the domestic league will be short-lived because the continental event takes over next week. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the mountain range, are up first on the coming weekend before the Pretoria-based club travel to the following weekend.
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