Northampton 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 rugby union team delivers plenty of thrills and drama.
In a town famous for shoe production, you would think boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold opt to run with the ball.
Even though playing for a quintessentially English community, they exhibit a style typical of the best Gallic masters of attacking rugby.
From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the Premiership and advanced far in the Champions Cup – defeated by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a last-four clash previously.
They currently top the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, always planned to be a trainer.
“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “However as you mature, you understand how much you appreciate the game, and what the everyday life looks like. I had a stint at a banking firm doing an internship. You do the commute a few times, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”
Discussions with former mentors led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson leads a team progressively 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.
An emerging talent also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s perfect autumn while the fly-half, in time, will take over the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this exceptional generation due to the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?
“It is a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so skilled.”
Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful people,” he adds. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my career, my training methods, how I deal with people.”
Northampton execute appealing football, which proved literally true in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The import was part of the Clermont XV beaten in the Champions Cup in last season when Tommy Freeman notched a three tries. The player liked what he saw enough to reverse the trend of English talent moving to France.
“A friend phoned me and stated: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s seeking a team,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We lack the budget for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for experience, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We spoke to him and his communication was incredible, he was articulate, he had a witty personality.
“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and outside the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson states the young Pollock provides a specific energy. Has he coached an individual like him? “No,” Dowson answers. “Each person is unique but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”
His breathtaking touchdown against Leinster previously illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his demonstrative during matches behavior have resulted in accusations of cockiness.
“On occasion appears arrogant in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is being serious the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and a positive influence within the team.”
Hardly any directors of rugby would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with Sam Vesty.
“Sam and I possess an interest regarding different things,” he notes. “We run a book club. He desires to explore everything, seeks to understand all there is, wants to experience different things, and I think I’m the alike.
“We talk about numerous things away from the game: films, books, concepts, creativity. When we played Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”
One more date in France is coming up: The Saints' return with the English competition will be temporary because the European tournament intervenes shortly. Pau, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the South African team visit a week later.
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