Northampton Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town is hardly the most tropical destination in the world, but its squad offers an abundance of excitement and passion.
In a town renowned for footwear manufacturing, you would think punting to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues opt to retain possession.
Despite representing a distinctly UK location, they display a panache associated with the finest Gallic practitioners of expansive play.
After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and advanced far in the continental tournament – defeated by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a last-four clash earlier.
They lead the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight games for various teams combined, always planned to be a manager.
“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “But as you get older, you realise how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the real world is like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”
Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson leads a team ever more crammed with internationals: key individuals started for the Red Rose facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a profound impact off the bench in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, in time, will inherit the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this outstanding group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?
“It is a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so tight and so skilled.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be guided by highly engaging individuals,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my training methods, how I deal with others.”
The team execute appealing the game, which became obvious in the case of the French fly-half. The import was a member of the opposing team overcome in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger scored a three tries. He admired the style enough to go against the flow of English talent joining Top 14 sides.
“A friend called me and stated: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘There's no funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We met with Belleau and his English was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.
“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be driven, 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 fortunate to have him.”
Dowson comments the emerging Henry Pollock brings a specific vitality. Has he coached anyone similar? “No,” Dowson answers. “All players are unique but Pollock is distinct and special in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”
Pollock’s breathtaking try against Leinster in the past campaign illustrated his exceptional talent, but some of his animated on-field behavior have resulted in claims of arrogance.
“At times seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's being serious constantly. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s a smart player. I think on occasion it’s shown that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and great to have to have around.”
Few directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Sam Vesty.
“We both possess an interest about different things,” he says. “We have a book club. He aims to discover everything, seeks to understand all there is, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the same.
“We discuss lots of things beyond the game: cinema, books, ideas, culture. When we faced our French rivals previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more fixture in the French nation is approaching: The Saints' return with the Prem will be temporary because the continental event takes over shortly. The French side, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the Bulls visit soon after.
“I’m not going to be arrogant to the extent to {
