Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’

This English town may not be the most glamorous location in the world, but its club offers a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Even though representing a distinctly UK town, they display a panache synonymous with the finest Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have secured the English top flight and gone deep in the European competition – defeated by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by Leinster in a penultimate round before that.

They sit atop the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight fixtures for multiple clubs in total, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “Yet as you get older, you understand how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment entails. I spent some time at a financial institution doing work experience. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was tough – you realise what you have going for you.”

Conversations with club legends led to a position at Northampton. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson manages a squad increasingly crammed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the Red Rose against the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while Fin Smith, down the line, will take over the No 10 jersey.

Is the emergence of this remarkable generation because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a unit is certainly one of the factors they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by highly engaging personalities,” he says. “Jim had a big impact on my rugby life, my training methods, how I manage people.”

Saints execute entertaining the game, which was clearly evident in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was a member of the French club overcome in the European competition in the spring when the winger registered a three tries. The player liked what he saw sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars moving to France.

“A mate rang me and said: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We lack the funds for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my contact told me. That interested me. We spoke to him and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the French league. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Henry Pollock offers a particular enthusiasm. Has he coached an individual like him? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Each person is original but Pollock is different and unique in many ways. He’s fearless to be who he is.”

The player's breathtaking touchdown against the Irish side in the past campaign illustrated his unusual talent, but various his demonstrative in-game actions have brought allegations of overconfidence.

“At times seems cocky in his behavior, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And Pollock is not joking around all the time. Tactically he has contributions – he’s no fool. I feel sometimes it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and great to have to have around.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with Vesty.

“We both possess an curiosity around various topics,” he says. “We run a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter different things, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We converse on numerous topics beyond the sport: movies, reading, concepts, culture. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

Another match in Gall is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the European tournament intervenes shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the mountain range, are up first on matchday before the Bulls visit soon after.

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