Saints Coach Phil Dowson: ‘Banking Was a Difficult Experience’
Northampton isn't exactly the most tropical destination globally, but its club delivers a great deal of excitement and passion.
In a place famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think punting to be the Saints’ modus operandi. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold opt to keep ball in hand.
Despite embodying a typically British location, they showcase a panache typical of the greatest French practitioners of attacking rugby.
Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the Premiership and advanced far in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and knocked out by Leinster in a semi-final earlier.
They sit atop the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and visit their West Country rivals on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs altogether, consistently aimed to be a trainer.
“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “But as you age, you comprehend how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing a trial period. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was tough – you see what you do and don’t have.”
Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a role at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson manages a team ever more filled with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the national side against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.
Henry Pollock also had a profound impact off the bench in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, in time, will take over the No 10 jersey.
Is the emergence of this exceptional cohort because of the club's environment, or is it fortune?
“This is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the causes they are so tight and so gifted.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I was lucky to be guided by really interesting individuals,” he says. “Jim had a significant influence on my professional journey, my management style, how I deal with individuals.”
Saints demonstrate appealing football, which was clearly evident in the case of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the French club defeated in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman notched a triple. He was impressed enough to reverse the trend of UK players joining Top 14 sides.
“A mate rang me and said: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We don’t have budget for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for experience, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate said. That caught my attention. We had a conversation with Belleau and his language skills was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.
“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the French league. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”
Dowson says the young the flanker brings a unique vitality. Has he encountered a player like him? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Each person is individual but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be himself.”
His sensational try against Leinster in the past campaign illustrated his exceptional skill, but some of his demonstrative during matches behavior have led to claims of cockiness.
“At times seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Furthermore he's not joking around all the time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s no fool. I feel on occasion it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and a positive influence to have around.”
Hardly any coaches would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Sam Vesty.
“Together possess an curiosity regarding different things,” he explains. “We run a reading group. He aims to discover various elements, wants to know everything, desires to try new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.
“We converse on many subjects away from the sport: cinema, literature, concepts, art. When we met our French rivals last year, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”
A further date in France is coming up: The Saints' return with the Prem will be short-lived because the continental event takes over shortly. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the border region, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club travel to soon after.
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