Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
Northampton is hardly the most tropical location globally, but its rugby union team offers a great deal of thrills and drama.
In a place known for footwear manufacturing, you might expect kicking to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.
Despite playing for a typically British community, they display a flair typical of the finest French practitioners of attacking rugby.
After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the domestic league and advanced far in the continental tournament – beaten by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.
They lead the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, chasing a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight matches for multiple clubs in total, always planned to be a coach.
“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “But as you age, you realise how much you enjoy the game, and what the everyday life is like. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing an internship. You make the journey a several occasions, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”
Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a job at the Saints. Move forward eight years and Dowson guides a roster increasingly packed with global stars: key individuals lined up for the Red Rose facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's successful series while the fly-half, down the line, will take over the pivotal position.
Is the emergence of this outstanding generation because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?
“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a unit is certainly one of the factors they are so united and so gifted.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he says. “Jim had a significant influence on my career, my management style, how I manage people.”
The team play attractive football, which became obvious in the case of their new signing. The Gallic player was part of the Clermont XV overcome in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman notched a three tries. He liked what he saw enough to buck the pattern of British stars joining Top 14 sides.
“An associate rang me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We lack the budget for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He desires new challenges, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my contact said. That interested me. We had a conversation with him and his language skills was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.
“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson comments the emerging Henry Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he coached a player like him? “Never,” Dowson replies. “All players are individual but he is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be himself.”
His breathtaking score against the Irish side previously showcased his unusual talent, but a few of his expressive on-field behavior have led to allegations of cockiness.
“At times comes across as cocky in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “Furthermore he's not taking the piss constantly. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”
Hardly any coaches would admit to enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with Vesty.
“Together have an interest regarding different things,” he notes. “We have a literary circle. He wants to see all aspects, wants to know each detail, wants to experience different things, and I think I’m the alike.
“We converse on many subjects beyond the game: movies, books, concepts, art. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
Another fixture in Gall is approaching: The Saints' reacquaintance with the English competition will be temporary because the continental event kicks in soon. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the Pretoria-based club travel to soon after.
“I’m not going to be presumptuous enough to {