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Northampton isn't exactly the most exotic destination in the world, but its rugby union team provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a place renowned for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under leader Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Even though playing for a distinctly UK location, they showcase a flair associated with the best French exponents of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the domestic league and advanced far in the continental tournament – losing to their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by the Irish province in a penultimate round previously.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and visit Ashton Gate on matchday as the only unbeaten side, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for various teams combined, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “However as you get older, you comprehend how much you love the game, and what the normal employment looks like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing a trial period. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a job at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson guides a squad ever more crammed with global stars: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the national side against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's successful series while the number ten, down the line, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this exceptional generation attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be guided by really interesting personalities,” he notes. “Mallinder had a major effect on my rugby life, my training methods, how I interact with people.”

Saints demonstrate entertaining the game, which became obvious in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The Gallic player was part of the opposing team beaten in the European competition in last season when the winger registered a hat-trick. Belleau was impressed to such an extent to reverse the trend of English talent heading across the Channel.

“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate told me. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his communication was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and outside the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a specific vitality. Has he coached anyone similar? “No,” Dowson answers. “All players are original but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

The player's spectacular score against the Irish side previously showcased his freakish skill, but some of his animated in-game antics have resulted in allegations of overconfidence.

“At times seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “Plus Henry’s being serious constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think at times it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”

Hardly any managers would describe themselves as having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“We both share an inquisitiveness around diverse subjects,” he explains. “We maintain a literary circle. He wants to see everything, aims to learn all there is, aims to encounter varied activities, and I feel like I’m the same.

“We discuss many things away from the sport: cinema, reading, ideas, creativity. When we played our French rivals in the past season, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

One more date in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the Prem will be brief because the continental event takes over shortly. The French side, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are up first on matchday before the South African team visit soon after.

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