Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town isn't exactly the most tropical location in the world, but its rugby union team offers plenty of romance and adventure.
In a town famous for boot‑making, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. Yet under leader Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold prefer to retain possession.
Despite embodying a distinctly UK location, they display a style synonymous with the finest Gallic practitioners of expansive play.
From the time Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the domestic league and gone deep in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and eliminated by the Irish province in a last-four clash earlier.
They sit atop the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the just one without a loss, seeking a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs in total, consistently aimed to be a trainer.
“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “But as you age, you understand how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life looks like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you realise what you do and don’t have.”
Discussions with former mentors resulted in a position at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson manages a roster increasingly packed with global stars: key individuals started for the Red Rose versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's flawless campaign while the fly-half, in time, will assume the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this exceptional cohort attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?
“It's a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so tight and so gifted.”
Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I manage individuals.”
Saints demonstrate attractive rugby, which became obvious in the example of their new signing. The Frenchman was part of the French club overcome in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger notched a hat-trick. He liked what he saw to such an extent to buck the pattern of British stars heading across the Channel.
“An associate rang me and remarked: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson recalls. “I replied: ‘We don’t have money for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He desires new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact said. That interested me. We spoke to him and his language skills was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.
“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson says the emerging the flanker offers a specific energy. Does he know anyone comparable? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Each person is original but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”
Pollock’s breathtaking touchdown against their opponents previously illustrated his freakish skill, but some of his demonstrative on-field antics have led to accusations of arrogance.
“At times seems cocky in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And he's being serious the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I think on occasion it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and a positive influence within the team.”
Hardly any coaches would claim to have having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with his co-coach.
“We both have an interest about various topics,” he notes. “We run a book club. He desires to explore everything, wants to know all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the similar.
“We discuss lots of subjects outside the sport: films, literature, ideas, art. When we played the Parisian club last year, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more date in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be temporary because the European tournament kicks in soon. The French side, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the South African team visit the following weekend.
“I’m not going to be arrogant enough to {