Dowson plays down Bath rivalry ahead of re-match

Phil Dowson guided Northampton Saints to the title in 2024 [Getty Images]

Northampton Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson has played down talk of a growing rivalry between his side and Bath.

They are the current top two in the Prem Rugby table and played out a thrilling European Champions Cup quarter-final at The Rec on 10 April, when Bath came out on top 43-41 in a game featuring 11 tries.

The two teams will meet at Northampton on Saturday, with Saints holding a single-point lead in the table, both teams having won 11 out of 13 games so far.

"It's not something we talked about last year. No-one was saying 'oh, this huge Saints-Bath rivalry' when we were eighth and they were at the top of the table," Dowson told BBC Radio Northampton.

"I think it's based on the fact that it's two sides performing really well, I don't think it's something that's been going on for decades.

"This season, Bath have been exceptional, like they were last year, and we've been very good as well, so it makes for an interesting battle, but I think you can probably overstate the rivalry stakes.

"At this moment in time it's two good sides, that's not to say in three years time it'll be this huge rivalry still."

• Listen to the latest edition of BBC Radio Northampton's The Saints Show
• Full-back Pater signs new Northampton deal
• Northampton delighted by Litchfield's progress

Saturday's match will be the third meeting of the teams this season, with Saints coming from behind to win 41-21 at The Rec in December.