Northampton Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town may not be the most glamorous location on the planet, but its club provides a great deal of thrills and drama.
In a city renowned for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ modus operandi. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors opt to run with the ball.
Even though embodying a quintessentially English community, they display a style associated with the greatest Gallic practitioners of attacking rugby.
Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have won the English top flight and progressed well in the European competition – losing to a French side in last season’s final and ousted by Dublin-based club in a semi-final earlier.
They lead the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and visit their West Country rivals on matchday as the just one without a loss, seeking a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight matches for various teams in total, had long intended to be a manager.
“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “However as you get older, you understand how much you appreciate the sport, and what the everyday life looks like. I spent some time at a financial institution doing a trial period. You do the commute a few times, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”
Discussions with club legends led to a role at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson guides a roster ever more filled with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
An emerging talent also had a significant influence from the replacements in the national team's flawless campaign while Fin Smith, in time, will take over the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this exceptional generation attributable to the club's environment, or is it luck?
“It is a bit of both,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a collective is definitely one of the factors they are so tight and so gifted.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “Jim had a major effect on my rugby life, my training methods, how I interact with others.”
The team demonstrate attractive the game, which was clearly evident in the case of their new signing. The Gallic player was part of the French club beaten in the European competition in last season when Tommy Freeman notched a hat-trick. He liked what he saw sufficiently to buck the pattern of UK players moving to France.
“A friend rang me and said: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘There's no budget for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my mate said. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his English was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.
“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson states the 20-year-old Pollock offers a particular vitality. Has he coached anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s original but Henry is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be authentic.”
The player's breathtaking try against the Irish side last season showcased his exceptional ability, but various his animated on-field actions have resulted in claims of cockiness.
“On occasion appears overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun to have around.”
Few managers would describe themselves as having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Vesty.
“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness around diverse subjects,” he notes. “We have a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the alike.
“We converse on lots of things away from rugby: cinema, literature, concepts, creativity. When we met Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”
A further fixture in France is coming up: Northampton’s return with the domestic league will be brief because the continental event intervenes shortly. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the border region, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the Pretoria-based club travel to a week later.
“I’m not going to be arrogant to the extent to {