Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous destination globally, but its club delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.
In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Saints’ main approach. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to retain possession.
Even though embodying a typically British location, they display a flair typical of the greatest Gallic exponents of attacking rugby.
After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.
They lead the Prem table after four wins and a draw and visit their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, seeking a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite games for various teams altogether, always planned to be a manager.
“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “But as you get older, you realise how much you love the game, and what the everyday life entails. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you possess and lack.”
Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a position at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson guides a team ever more filled with internationals: key individuals lined up for the Red Rose versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while the number ten, down the line, will inherit the No 10 jersey.
Is the rise of this exceptional group due to the club's environment, or is it luck?
“It's a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the factors they are so close-knit and so talented.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by highly engaging personalities,” he says. “Mallinder had a major effect on my career, my management style, how I interact with people.”
The team play entertaining the game, which was clearly evident in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The import was a member of the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in the spring when the winger notched a triple. He admired the style sufficiently to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.
“A mate phoned me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s seeking a team,’” Dowson recalls. “I replied: ‘We don’t have budget for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He desires experience, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend told me. That interested me. We spoke to Anthony and his language skills was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”
Dowson comments the emerging Henry Pollock brings a particular vitality. Has he coached anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s unique but he is distinct and special in many ways. He’s fearless to be himself.”
Pollock’s breathtaking score against Leinster in the past campaign demonstrated his freakish talent, but a few of his demonstrative in-game behavior have led to allegations of arrogance.
“On occasion comes across as cocky in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus he's not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s a smart player. I think on occasion it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and good fun to have around.”
Few coaches would admit to sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with Sam Vesty.
“Together have an interest around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We have a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, wants to know all there is, aims to encounter different things, and I think I’m the similar.
“We talk about lots of topics beyond the sport: movies, reading, ideas, creativity. When we played our French rivals previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”
Another date in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be short-lived because the European tournament takes over soon. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the border region, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at a week later.
“I refuse to be arrogant sufficiently to {
