Newcastle Falcons' skipper Phil Dowson takes time out from his summer hols to talk to rucked.com...
Good summer so far?
I wasn't selected for the Saxons, so I've had the summer off. I went to Sardinia with my girlfriend on holiday and I've been taking flying lessons on my return, which has been good. I've also started a new business providing paper and ink to the printing industry, so its quite specialist.
What you up to right now?
I'm actually playing boule at a country house hotel, which has some fantastic facilities. We're down here for Lee Dickson's wedding.
Even though you sadly didn't go on the Saxons trip yourself at least one Falcon - coach Steve Bates - tasted success. Confident he can deliver on the home front in 2008/09?
I think so. He is a really good coach, he has shown that with the Saxons and with other teams he has been involved with. The end of last year was a tough time so you cannot really judge him on the results. Hopefully this year will be a really good year for us. A few players have gone, a few players have arrived, so it's going to be a really big year. We can't afford to have another year like last year.
Steve has hinted at a more pragmatic approach in terms of your playing style...
Yes we did like to throw the ball around last season, perhaps a little too much. It's a sad thing to say but you don't get rewarded for throwing the ball around in your own 22, that's basic common sense. From time to time we did score some stunning tries from near our own try-line, but we also conceded quite a few; basically it comes down to decision making.
Are you leading the side again next season?
Yep, that's what Batesy said at the end of last season and I haven't been told otherwise yet.
You mentioned a few players have left, the most high profile being Mathew Tait and Toby Flood, is it going to be strange not having those two around?
I don't think so. Hopefully the fans will get behind the next wave of young guys coming through, who are very talented. A lot was made of their departures in the press but three of them out of the four were out of contract anyway and were considering moving before any of the comings and goings in the management. We're all still mates with the guys that have gone and we wish them all the best.
With Jonny Wilkinson picked in the England squad and Toby Flood now gone who are you looking to play fly-half?
That's a very good question. We've got some younger guys coming through like Rob Miller who played some Premiership rugby last season and did very well; there's Steven Jones who had a good Churchill Cup campaign with Scotland A; and then there's Rory Clegg who has played England age groups all the way through. What we need to make sure is that these guys are not left making big decisions on their own. The more experienced players around them will have to step up.
Is there a steely determination in the squad to prove wrong the pundits who have you down as relegation favourites?
I think so, the players are used to that. What they say is based on conjecture of opinion and it's up to prove them wrong. We know it will be tough but it is tough every year. We have to make sure our own house is in order and not worry too much about what other people think.