'Some ugly results' - Dowson steels Saints for another huge test at Bristol Bears
Phil Dowson admits Saints’ recent results at Bristol Bears have been ‘ugly’.
And the director of rugby is desperate to see his side do much better at Ashton Gate on Saturday evening (kick-off 5.45pm).
Saints suffered their record top-flight defeat at Bristol back in March 2023, losing 62-8.
It wasn’t much better a year later as they were thrashed 52-21 in the south-west.
They did find some improvement last season, only losing 31-23 despite missing a laundry list of stars.
But it’s fair to say Ashton Gate has not been a happy hunting ground for Saints, who have not won there in the league since November 2021.
"In recent history we've found it a very tough place to go,” Dowson said.
"We've had some torrid times and some ugly results so we're aware of how hard it is, we're aware of their playing style and how tough it is to defend.
"I'm also aware of the fact they've had some key injuries to their playmakers so they've regrouped very well and they'll be a handful again, I'm sure.”
Saints are top of the Gallagher PREM table ahead of this game, but they will again be missing several stars (see page 88).
And Dowson knows exactly what kind of challenge Bristol will pose to his team’s unbeaten league record.
"Their playing style is different to lots of other teams in the PREM in that their pass to kick ratio, their pass to breakdown ratio is very, very high,” the Saints boss said.
"They're willing to move the ball, they don't necessarily kick to compete and they will kick long but only when they have to.
"They'll look to play out of their own 22, they're one of the highest offloading teams in the league, one of the highest line-break teams in the league, they've got license to go and play.
"They're a different threat to what you often find in the PREM so it's an exciting challenge for us.”