'Different psychological remit' as Dowson takes Saints to Bath again
Phil Dowson knows Saints will face a different kind of challenge to the one they overcame at Bath in December when they take to the field for the Investec Champions Cup quarter-final on Friday night (kick-off 8pm).
The Saints boss takes his side back to The Rec, where they claimed a sensational 41-21 success in a Gallagher PREM game two days after Christmas.
On that occasion, a heavily rotated black, green and gold team produced a phenomenal performance against the reigning PREM champions.
But though he admits Saints can take aspects of that display into this week, he knows facing Bath in a knockout tie won’t be the same proposition.
“You take elements of the game from it (the game in December) and you take elements of our performance, but you understand that's obviously being spoken about in their meeting rooms and we need to be ready for the intensity they're going to bring because they will want to make sure it doesn't happen again,” Dowson said.
"We're aware of it, we've spoken about the things that worked for us that day and trying to replicate them on Friday night, but knowing it's a completely different game and a completely different psychological remit really.”
On Bath, who currently sit second in the PREM, a point behind Saints, Dowson said: “What you see week in, week out from them is a very, very high quality squad and they're very well coached.
"They're the reigning champions in the PREM, they won a treble last year and we're aware it's going to be a very big challenge on Friday night.”
Saints have claimed three wins in a row since returning from the PREM Rugby Cup block that took place during the Guinness Six Nations.
They have edged out Newcastle Red Bulls, Saracens and Castres Olympique, by a total margin of 13 points.
And when asked what kind of form he feels his side are in going into the battle with Bath, Dowson said: “I don't think we've necessarily hit our straps post-PRC block, but we've done enough.
"Last week, there were elements of our game that were disappointing, likewise against Saracens and Newcastle, so there's no such thing as a perfect game, but we're doing enough.
"We're working incredibly hard from a training point of view to get those things done.”