Northampton Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
This English town may not be the most glamorous destination globally, but its rugby union team provides a great deal of thrills and drama.
In a town renowned for shoe production, you could anticipate punting to be the Northampton's main approach. But under leader Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold prefer to retain possession.
Although embodying a distinctly UK location, they showcase a style typical of the greatest French exponents of attacking rugby.
Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the English top flight and gone deep in the Champions Cup – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.
They lead the Prem table after four wins and a draw and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for various teams combined, always planned to be a coach.
“As a professional, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “But as you age, you understand how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the normal employment entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you grasp what you have going for you.”
Talks with club legends resulted in a role at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson manages a team increasingly crammed with internationals: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose against the All Blacks two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, in time, will assume the No 10 jersey.
Is the rise of this outstanding group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?
“It's a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is definitely one of the causes they are so close-knit and so talented.”
Dowson also cites his predecessor, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be coached by really interesting people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a big impact on my rugby life, my management style, how I interact with individuals.”
Northampton demonstrate appealing football, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was involved with the opposing team defeated in the European competition in April when Freeman notched a triple. The player admired the style enough to go against the flow of British stars moving to France.
“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We don’t have budget for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He desires a fresh start, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my friend told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his English was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.
“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”
Dowson says the emerging Pollock provides a particular vitality. Has he encountered a player similar? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s original but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s unafraid to be himself.”
Pollock’s spectacular try against their opponents last season illustrated his exceptional talent, but a few of his expressive on-field actions have resulted in claims of overconfidence.
“At times seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus Henry’s not joking around the whole time. Tactically he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I feel at times it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have to have around.”
Hardly any managers would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with Vesty.
“Together have an curiosity about different things,” he explains. “We maintain a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter new experiences, and I believe I’m the same.
“We discuss many subjects away from the game: movies, literature, thoughts, culture. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”
A further fixture in France is approaching: Northampton’s comeback with the domestic league will be brief because the continental event kicks in soon. The French side, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on matchday before the South African team arrive at a week later.
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