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Northampton is hardly the most tropical destination in the world, but its rugby union team provides plenty of excitement and passion.

In a place renowned for boot‑making, you might expect kicking to be the Saints’ main approach. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite embodying a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a panache typical of the finest Gallic exponents of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and gone deep in the continental tournament – beaten by a French side in the ultimate match and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.

They sit atop the Prem table after a series of victories and one tie and head to Bristol on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier matches for various teams combined, had long intended to be a manager.

“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “But as you mature, you comprehend how much you love the game, and what the real world entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you realise what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder led to a job at the Saints. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson leads a team progressively filled with global stars: key individuals lined up for England against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a profound impact off the bench in the national team's flawless campaign while the fly-half, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this exceptional cohort because of the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?

“It's a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a unit is certainly one of the causes they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, a former boss at the club's home, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he notes. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I deal with people.”

Saints play attractive football, which proved literally true in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The Gallic player was involved with the opposing team defeated in the Champions Cup in last season when Freeman scored a three tries. The player admired the style sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars moving to France.

“A friend phoned me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a overseas star. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with him and his language skills was incredible, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the French league. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the young Pollock brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered an individual comparable? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “Each person is individual but he is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

The player's spectacular touchdown against their opponents previously illustrated his unusual talent, but a few of his demonstrative in-game behavior have led to allegations of arrogance.

“He sometimes appears arrogant in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Henry’s being serious constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I feel on occasion it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and great to have within the team.”

Few coaches would admit to having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his relationship with Vesty.

“We both share an inquisitiveness about diverse subjects,” he says. “We maintain a reading group. He aims to discover various elements, wants to know everything, aims to encounter new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We talk about numerous subjects outside rugby: movies, books, thoughts, creativity. When we faced Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a quick look.”

Another fixture in France is coming up: The Saints' return with the Prem will be temporary because the Champions Cup takes over soon. Pau, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are up first on Sunday week before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I refuse to be presumptuous to the extent to {