Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
This English town is hardly the most glamorous location in the world, but its rugby union team provides plenty of romance and adventure.
In a place famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ main approach. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues opt to keep ball in hand.
Even though embodying a quintessentially English town, they showcase a flair synonymous with the greatest French masters of attacking rugby.
From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and progressed well in the Champions Cup – defeated by a French side in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a last-four clash previously.
They currently top the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and travel to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, chasing a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 premier games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, consistently aimed to be a trainer.
“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “However as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the normal employment entails. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was difficult – you see what you possess and lack.”
Conversations with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson leads a team progressively packed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for England against the All Blacks two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, in time, will take over the fly-half role.
Is the rise of this exceptional generation because of the club's environment, or is it fortune?
“It is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a group is definitely one of the factors they are so united and so gifted.”
Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by highly engaging people,” he notes. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my training methods, how I deal with people.”
Northampton play entertaining football, which was clearly evident in the case of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in April when Tommy Freeman registered a three tries. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of English talent heading across the Channel.
“An associate rang me and remarked: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That intrigued us. We spoke to Anthony and his communication was excellent, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.
“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson states the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Does he know a player similar? “No,” Dowson answers. “Each person is individual but Pollock is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”
His spectacular score against the Irish side previously illustrated his freakish talent, but some of his animated on-field actions have resulted in allegations of overconfidence.
“He sometimes seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s being serious all the time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s no fool. I believe sometimes it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and good fun in the squad.”
Not many coaches would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with his co-coach.
“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he says. “We have a book club. He wants to see all aspects, wants to know everything, desires to try different things, and I believe I’m the alike.
“We converse on numerous things away from the game: films, reading, concepts, art. When we met the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more fixture in Gall is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be temporary because the continental event intervenes soon. The French side, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on matchday before the Bulls travel to a week later.
“I refuse to be arrogant enough to {