Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town may not be the most exotic destination on the planet, but its club offers an abundance of thrills and drama.
In a city known for boot‑making, you could anticipate kicking to be the Northampton's modus operandi. However under leader Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold prefer to retain possession.
Even though playing for a quintessentially English location, they display a panache synonymous with the finest French exponents of expansive play.
Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the domestic league and gone deep in the continental tournament – beaten by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.
They lead the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and head to Bristol on Saturday as the just one without a loss, seeking a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for various teams in total, had long intended to be a coach.
“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “Yet as you get older, you realise how much you enjoy the game, and what the real world looks like. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you have going for you.”
Conversations with former mentors culminated in a position at the Saints. Move forward several seasons and Dowson leads a team ever more crammed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose against the All Blacks two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s successful series while the fly-half, eventually, will assume the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this remarkable cohort due to the team's ethos, or is it luck?
“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”
Dowson also mentions Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my career, my coaching, how I deal with people.”
Northampton play attractive football, which proved literally true in the example of their new signing. The Gallic player was a member of the opposing team beaten in the Champions Cup in the spring when Freeman scored a three tries. He admired the style to such an extent to go against the flow of UK players heading across the Channel.
“A friend called me and said: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We don’t have funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my contact informed me. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Belleau and his communication was excellent, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson says the 20-year-old Pollock provides a unique enthusiasm. Does he know an individual like him? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is original but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s unafraid to be himself.”
His sensational try against Leinster in the past campaign illustrated his freakish talent, but some of his demonstrative on-field antics have resulted in accusations of cockiness.
“At times comes across as arrogant in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Furthermore Pollock is not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”
Not many directors of rugby would admit to having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with his co-coach.
“Together possess an curiosity regarding various topics,” he notes. “We maintain a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, wants to know all there is, wants to experience varied activities, and I think I’m the alike.
“We talk about many topics beyond the sport: films, books, concepts, art. When we met Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more date in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event intervenes shortly. The French side, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Bulls visit a week later.
“I’m not going to be overconfident sufficiently to {
