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Phil Dowson is Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints
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Phil Dowson is Director of Rugby at Northampton Saints
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Rugby

Dowson: Saints can dine at European top table

Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson was thrilled with Saints’ performance last Friday evening, and now has set his sights on notching up back-to-back wins in the Investec Champions Cup – with RC Toulon visiting cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens this Friday.

Saints went into the break 22-5 up against Glasgow Warriors thanks to a brace of tries from Tommy Freeman along with one from Courtney Lawes – who crossed the line for the first time since scoring away to Gloucester in September 2018.

Two Fin Smith penalties in the second half were enough to see Saints to a 28-19 victory, and end Round 1 of the competition sitting top of Pool 3.

The win also ended a long winless run in Europe for Dowson’s side, and with French giants Toulon heading to Northampton this weekend, Saints’ Director of Rugby is excited for another big challenge under the lights at the Gardens.

“We want to be dining at the top table in Europe, and means beating some of the best French sides – Toulon are currently second in the Top14,” he said.

“We know all about their talents, and some of that is from Northampton, so we are aware of that challenge.”

Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby

“We will relish that and we’re preparing for the game appropriately.”

Saints have notched up two statement away wins in two weeks, beating Saracens and then Glasgow Warriors, which Dowson pointed out were similar in character.

And if they are to win their second match of the European campaign on Friday, Dowson knows they will have to be at their best once again.

He said: “The win against Glasgow was very similar in some ways to the Saracens game. We had a good start and got in amongst it.

“We were good at the breakdown again and we didn’t give too many penalties away. We were also good in our defensive systems along with some really good physicality.”

Phil Dowson, Director of Rugby

“We knew like the Saracens game, that Glasgow would put us under pressure at the end, and they did. In an ideal world, we would deal with that better, but at the same time some of our resilience, grit and determination was outstanding.

“We asked for the players to just keep doing what has made us successful in the Saracens performance. We made good decisions on when to counterattack, and when to kick.

“It wasn’t a perfect performance, with some frustration in the second half as we invited them in for opportunities, but then our maul defence stood firm.

“So we’re looking for more of the same on Friday night in front of a packed-out cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.”

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