Northampton Saints boss Phil Dowson has come to the defense of England back row Henry Pollock, who was booed by fans in their Champions Cup re-match with Bordeaux. The Saints' coach believes that Pollock's big-match temperament is a sign of respect from the Northampton faithful.
When asked about Pollock, Dowson stated: "For someone of his age to be dealing with that sort of pressure from a really partisan French crowd is impressive." He added that Pollock has earned a love-hate relationship with fans in France, and that he's impressed by his ability to perform under pressure.
Dowson also praised the media for helping to build Pollock's reputation, saying: "The media have really pushed that (Pollock's popularity) and that's great." However, he credited Pollock's actual playing ability for his success, stating: "You've also got to credit his ability to play the game."
Despite losing their Champions Cup re-match with Bordeaux 50-28, Northampton Saints remain certain of a place in the knockout stage of the competition. Dowson acknowledged that they were not at their best, but believes that they can learn from the experience and improve in time for their next match against Scarlets.
Northampton are set to round off their Champions Cup group stage with a home game against Scarlets on Sunday, who have lost all three games so far. The Saints still have a chance of finishing second in the pool, which would give them a home game in the last 16.
When asked about Pollock, Dowson stated: "For someone of his age to be dealing with that sort of pressure from a really partisan French crowd is impressive." He added that Pollock has earned a love-hate relationship with fans in France, and that he's impressed by his ability to perform under pressure.
Dowson also praised the media for helping to build Pollock's reputation, saying: "The media have really pushed that (Pollock's popularity) and that's great." However, he credited Pollock's actual playing ability for his success, stating: "You've also got to credit his ability to play the game."
Despite losing their Champions Cup re-match with Bordeaux 50-28, Northampton Saints remain certain of a place in the knockout stage of the competition. Dowson acknowledged that they were not at their best, but believes that they can learn from the experience and improve in time for their next match against Scarlets.
Northampton are set to round off their Champions Cup group stage with a home game against Scarlets on Sunday, who have lost all three games so far. The Saints still have a chance of finishing second in the pool, which would give them a home game in the last 16.
. It's like they're saying "respect" for his talent? Anyway, Saints coach Dowson seems to think so 
. He thinks it's a good sign from the Northampton faithful that Pollock's got that big-match temperament. But at the same time, he credits Pollock's playing ability for his success too 
. Can't deny that the media has helped build Pollock's rep though 
. Now, Saints are still in with a chance of finishing second in their pool and getting a home game in the last 16... exciting stuff! 
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especially considering hes not that old... like, 25 or something?! 
! Some people might say he's getting booed because he's not playing well, but Dowson sees it as a sign of respect - I get that, I've seen some crazy stuff from fans in my own matches at the pub 
. And yeah, credit to Pollock for stepping up and performing under pressure, that's what makes him a great player. The media has definitely helped build his rep too, but let's be real, it's his playing skills that got him there 
. Can't wait to see how the Saints do against Scarlets on Sunday, they're still in with a shot at making it second in the pool 
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As for the game against Scarlets, I think Northampton will learn from this experience and come back stronger. They've still got a chance to finish second in the pool and make it to the last 16. 
I mean, can you blame him? 50-28 is like getting served a massive plate of escargot – it's gonna sting!