Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town isn't exactly the most exotic destination globally, but its squad offers a great deal of excitement and passion.
In a city renowned for boot‑making, you would think punting to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors choose to keep ball in hand.
Although representing a distinctly UK town, they display a style typical of the greatest French masters of champagne rugby.
From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the Premiership and progressed well in the Champions Cup – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and eliminated by Dublin-based club in a penultimate round before that.
They currently top the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, seeking a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, consistently aimed to be a trainer.
“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “Yet as you age, you realise how much you appreciate the game, and what the everyday life entails. I had a stint at a financial institution doing a trial period. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you possess and lack.”
Conversations with former mentors culminated in a job at Northampton. Fast-forward a decade and Dowson guides a squad progressively crammed with internationals: prominent figures lined up for the national side facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while Fin Smith, eventually, will assume the pivotal position.
Is the development of this outstanding cohort because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?
“It is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a group is certainly one of the factors they are so united and so talented.”
Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful people,” he says. “Mallinder had a big impact on my career, my coaching, how I manage people.”
The team demonstrate attractive the game, which was clearly evident in the example of their new signing. The Frenchman was part of the French club defeated in the continental tournament in last season when Tommy Freeman registered a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw to such an extent to buck the pattern of UK players joining Top 14 sides.
“An associate called me and remarked: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the budget for a French fly-half. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend told me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Anthony and his English was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the Top 14. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson comments the emerging Henry Pollock provides a particular enthusiasm. Has he coached a player comparable? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but Henry is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”
Pollock’s sensational try against the Irish side in the past campaign illustrated his exceptional talent, but some of his animated on-field antics have resulted in claims of arrogance.
“On occasion seems cocky in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “And he's being serious the whole time. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and good fun within the team.”
Not many managers would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with his co-coach.
“We both possess an inquisitiveness about various topics,” he notes. “We maintain a book club. He wants to see all aspects, seeks to understand everything, desires to try different things, and I feel like I’m the similar.
“We talk about many topics outside rugby: films, books, thoughts, art. When we played our French rivals in the past season, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
A further match in France is looming: Northampton’s comeback with the domestic league will be temporary because the Champions Cup takes over next week. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the border region, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Bulls visit soon after.
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