Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’

Northampton is hardly the most glamorous destination in the world, but its club offers a great deal of thrills and drama.

In a town known for footwear manufacturing, you would think boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to retain possession.

Despite embodying a quintessentially English community, they showcase a style associated with the best Gallic practitioners of attacking rugby.

Since Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have won the English top flight and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to a French side in last season’s final and ousted by Leinster in a penultimate round earlier.

They currently top the league standings after four wins and a draw and visit their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for various teams altogether, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “However as you get older, you comprehend how much you appreciate the game, and what the normal employment entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing an internship. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson leads a squad ever more filled with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this outstanding group attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?

“This is a mix of each,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a collective is definitely one of the causes they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be coached by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he adds. “He had a big impact on my rugby life, my coaching, how I deal with individuals.”

Northampton play attractive the game, which became obvious in the example of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the opposing team defeated in the continental tournament in April when Tommy Freeman notched a hat-trick. He admired the style to such an extent to reverse the trend of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate rang me and stated: ‘We've found a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We lack the funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his communication was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Pollock provides a specific enthusiasm. Has he coached anyone like him? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s unique but he is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

Pollock’s spectacular try against the Irish side previously showcased his unusual skill, but various his demonstrative during matches behavior have led to allegations of cockiness.

“At times appears arrogant in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus Henry’s not joking around all the time. In terms of strategy he has contributions – he’s no fool. I believe on occasion it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and good fun in the squad.”

Few directors of rugby would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“Together possess an curiosity about different things,” he says. “We run a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, aims to learn all there is, desires to try different things, and I feel like I’m the same.

“We converse on lots of topics outside the game: films, reading, concepts, culture. When we faced our French rivals previously, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further fixture in France is coming up: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event kicks in shortly. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at a week later.

“I won't be arrogant to the extent to {