Northampton Coach Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
Northampton isn't exactly the most tropical destination in the world, but its rugby union team provides an abundance of thrills and drama.
In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to run with the ball.
Even though representing a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a flair typical of the best Gallic masters of expansive play.
After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and gone deep in the continental tournament – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by Leinster in a penultimate round earlier.
They currently top the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and head to their West Country rivals on matchday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, consistently aimed to be a manager.
“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “But as you get older, you understand how much you enjoy the game, and what the real world is like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing an internship. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was challenging – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”
Talks with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson leads a team ever more filled with national team players: key individuals were selected for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
An emerging talent also had a major effect as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, eventually, will assume the pivotal position.
Is the emergence of this remarkable group due to the club's environment, or is it fortune?
“It's a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a collective is definitely one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be coached by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he says. “Jim had a significant influence on my career, my coaching, how I deal with others.”
The team play attractive football, which proved literally true in the case of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was a member of the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in the spring when Tommy Freeman notched a triple. Belleau was impressed enough to go against the flow of English talent joining Top 14 sides.
“A mate rang me and stated: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We don’t have money for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’
‘He desires new challenges, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my mate told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his language skills was outstanding, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.
“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson comments the young Pollock offers a unique enthusiasm. Does he know anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson responds. “All players are individual but he is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”
His sensational try against their opponents last season illustrated his unusual talent, but various his demonstrative during matches antics have brought allegations of overconfidence.
“At times seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore he's not taking the piss constantly. Tactically he has input – he’s not a clown. I believe sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and good fun to have around.”
Hardly any coaches would admit to enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Vesty.
“We both share an interest around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We run a reading group. He wants to see various elements, wants to know all there is, desires to try varied activities, and I feel like I’m the similar.
“We discuss lots of subjects outside rugby: cinema, books, ideas, art. When we met Stade [Français] last year, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
Another date in France is looming: Northampton’s return with the domestic league will be short-lived because the Champions Cup intervenes soon. The French side, in the vicinity of the border region, are up first on matchday before the Bulls travel to soon after.
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