Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town may not be the most tropical spot on the planet, but its club delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.
In a place renowned for boot‑making, you would think boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors prefer to retain possession.
Even though representing a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a flair synonymous with the greatest French masters of champagne rugby.
After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the domestic league and gone deep in the European competition – beaten by a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by Leinster in a last-four clash earlier.
They lead the league standings after four wins and a draw and head to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight fixtures for multiple clubs altogether, always planned to be a manager.
“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “However as you age, you realise how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment looks like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing work experience. You travel to work a few times, and it was tough – you see what you have going for you.”
Talks with club legends resulted in a job at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson manages a squad ever more packed with global stars: prominent figures lined up for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while Fin Smith, down the line, will inherit the No 10 jersey.
Is the rise of this remarkable generation attributable to the club's environment, or is it fortune?
“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a collective is definitely one of the factors they are so tight and so talented.”
Dowson also mentions Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be guided by really interesting personalities,” he adds. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my career, my coaching, how I manage individuals.”
Saints demonstrate attractive rugby, which was clearly evident in the example of their new signing. The Frenchman was involved with the French club overcome in the continental tournament in the spring when the winger registered a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to buck the pattern of UK players moving to France.
“A friend rang me and said: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “I said: ‘We don’t have budget for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact said. That interested me. We spoke to Anthony and his communication was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson says the emerging the flanker brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered an individual similar? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s individual but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”
The player's spectacular touchdown against the Irish side last season illustrated his freakish skill, but some of his demonstrative during matches actions have brought allegations of overconfidence.
“On occasion seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore he's not joking around constantly. Game-wise he has input – he’s not a clown. I believe at times it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and a positive influence within the team.”
Not many directors of rugby would describe themselves as having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Sam Vesty.
“Sam and I have an inquisitiveness about diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a book club. He wants to see various elements, seeks to understand all there is, desires to try different things, and I feel like I’m the similar.
“We converse on lots of topics away from the game: films, reading, thoughts, art. When we met our French rivals in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”
One more match in Gall is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be short-lived because the continental event kicks in next week. Pau, in the foothills of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on matchday before the South African team travel to soon after.
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