Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town is hardly the most exotic spot on the planet, but its squad offers an abundance of excitement and passion.
In a place known for shoe production, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.
Although embodying a distinctly UK community, they exhibit a style associated with the finest Gallic practitioners of expansive play.
After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles 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 their West Country rivals on matchday as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier games for multiple clubs combined, always planned to be a manager.
“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “But as you mature, you realise how much you love the rugby, and what the real world looks like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”
Talks with former mentors led to a position at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson manages a squad ever more filled with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, eventually, will take over the fly-half role.
Is the development of this remarkable group due to the club's environment, or is it fortune?
“This is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a collective is definitely one of the reasons they are so united and so talented.”
Dowson also mentions Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be coached by really interesting personalities,” he says. “Jim had a big impact on my career, my management style, how I interact with people.”
Saints execute attractive rugby, which became obvious in the case of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the French club defeated in the Champions Cup in last season when Tommy Freeman scored a three tries. Belleau liked what he saw enough to buck the pattern of British stars joining Top 14 sides.
“A friend called me and stated: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘There's no money for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’
‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my mate said. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Belleau and his English was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.
“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson says the emerging the flanker provides a particular energy. Has he coached a player similar? “No,” Dowson responds. “All players are unique but Henry is different and unique in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be himself.”
His spectacular try against the Irish side last season illustrated his exceptional skill, but a few of his animated during matches behavior have brought claims of arrogance.
“On occasion appears overconfident in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Henry’s not taking the piss the whole time. In terms of strategy he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I feel sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and a positive influence in the squad.”
Not many managers would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Vesty.
“We both possess an interest about diverse subjects,” he notes. “We have a literary circle. He aims to discover various elements, seeks to understand everything, desires to try new experiences, and I feel like I’m the same.
“We talk about lots of topics away from the game: films, literature, thoughts, art. When we faced Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more match in France is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the Champions Cup intervenes next week. The French side, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at soon after.
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