We must get used to life after Lawes, urges Dowson

NORTHAMPTON boss Phil Dowson has told his squad to get used to life without Courtney Lawes and co in a hurry ahead of their Premiership title defence.

- ADAM HATHAWAY

Saints’ legend Lawes, who has moved to Brive in France’s ProD2, former club captain Lewis Ludlam and veteran prop Alex Waller all exited Franklin’s Garden in the summer.

The leadership burden will now fall on the likes of George Furbank, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell, Alex Coles and Fin Smith as Dowson plots Northampton’s campaign.

Lawes and Ludlam leave big shoes to fill but Dowson is confident his charges are on the right road to replacing two iconic Saints players and not resting on their laurels after last season’s glory.

“Courtney, he’s an absolute rock and roll star, a club legend,” said Dowson. “Clearly his experience and his know-how, the lads look to him in certain moments, will be missed. But little by little we’re picking up some of that experience, people have learned from him and other players are taking some of his personality under pressure. People like Furbank, Dingers and Alex Coles have picked up a huge amount from him, just being around him in those games. Clearly, he is a big miss, but we have to move forward, and we have to try and develop different leaders.