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This English town is hardly the most glamorous destination in the world, but its club provides plenty of romance and adventure.

In a town famous for boot‑making, you would think punting to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold prefer to retain possession.

Even though embodying a typically British community, they exhibit a style associated with the greatest Gallic practitioners of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have won the domestic league and progressed well in the continental tournament – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a last-four clash earlier.

They currently top the Prem table after four wins and a draw and visit Ashton Gate on matchday as the just one without a loss, seeking a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, always planned to be a coach.

“When I played, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “But as you get older, you understand how much you enjoy the game, and what the everyday life is like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing a trial period. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you see what you have going for you.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a position at Northampton. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson leads a roster progressively packed with global stars: prominent figures lined up for England against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence from the replacements in England’s successful series while the fly-half, in time, will inherit the No 10 jersey.

Is the development of this exceptional cohort attributable to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the reasons they are so tight and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be coached by highly engaging individuals,” he notes. “Jim had a major effect on my career, my training methods, how I deal with people.”

Northampton execute entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was part of the opposing team defeated in the European competition in April when the winger notched a hat-trick. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate called me and remarked: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We don’t have budget for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my friend told me. That intrigued us. We spoke to Belleau and his English was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be pushed, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the young Pollock offers a unique vitality. Does he know an individual comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “All players are unique but he is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

Pollock’s spectacular touchdown against Leinster last season illustrated his freakish skill, but some of his animated during matches antics have led to allegations of overconfidence.

“At times appears cocky in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And Pollock is not joking around constantly. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel on occasion it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and good fun to have around.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“Together share an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he explains. “We run a reading group. He wants to see various elements, wants to know each detail, wants to experience different things, and I think I’m the similar.

“We talk about numerous subjects outside rugby: cinema, reading, ideas, art. When we met Stade [Français] in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more date in France is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be short-lived because the European tournament kicks in next week. Pau, in the foothills of the border region, are up first on the coming weekend before the South African team visit the following weekend.

“I won't be arrogant enough to {