Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson: ‘I Tried Working for a Bank – It Was Tough’
Northampton may not be the most glamorous destination on the planet, but its rugby union team offers plenty of excitement and passion.
In a place famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors choose to keep ball in hand.
Even though playing for a quintessentially English location, they display a flair associated with the finest French masters of attacking rugby.
After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have won the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and ousted by Leinster in a penultimate round previously.
They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and head to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the just one without a loss, aiming for a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.
It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, always planned to be a manager.
“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “However as you mature, you realise how much you appreciate the game, and what the everyday life looks like. I spent some time at a financial institution doing an internship. You make the journey a several occasions, and it was challenging – you realise what you have going for you.”
Talks with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Move forward several seasons and Dowson manages a squad progressively filled with global stars: prominent figures were selected for the national side against the All Blacks two weeks ago.
The young flanker also had a profound impact off the bench in England’s successful series while the number ten, down the line, will take over the pivotal position.
Is the emergence of this exceptional cohort due to the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?
“It is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”
Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be coached by highly engaging people,” he notes. “Jim had a big impact on my professional journey, my management style, how I interact with individuals.”
Saints demonstrate attractive the game, which became obvious in the case of their new signing. The import was a member of the opposing team overcome in the European competition in April when Tommy Freeman scored a three tries. Belleau was impressed to such an extent to go against the flow of British stars moving to France.
“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’
‘He’s looking for experience, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend informed me. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his English was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.
“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He said to be trained, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”
Dowson states the young Pollock offers a specific energy. Has he encountered anyone like him? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “Everyone’s original but Pollock is distinct and special in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”
His breathtaking try against Leinster previously demonstrated his unusual talent, but a few of his animated on-field antics have brought allegations of overconfidence.
“At times comes across as arrogant in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around all the time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I think sometimes it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and good fun within the team.”
Not many directors of rugby would admit to having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with Vesty.
“We both share an interest around different things,” he explains. “We maintain a reading group. He aims to discover all aspects, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience varied activities, and I believe I’m the similar.
“We converse on many things away from the sport: films, reading, thoughts, art. When we met the Parisian club last year, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”
A further match in France is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the domestic league will be temporary because the Champions Cup kicks in next week. The French side, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team travel to a week later.
“I refuse to be presumptuous to the extent to {