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This English town isn't exactly the most exotic location on the planet, but its club provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a town renowned for shoe production, you would think boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors prefer to retain possession.

Although representing a quintessentially English location, they display a flair associated with the finest French practitioners of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and progressed well in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final previously.

They sit atop the league standings after four wins and a draw and travel to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for various teams in total, always planned to be a coach.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “Yet as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with former mentors resulted in a position at the Saints. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson leads 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 major effect off the bench in the national team's successful series while the number ten, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable generation attributable to the team's ethos, or is it chance?

“It is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a collective is definitely one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he notes. “Mallinder had a major effect on my rugby life, my training methods, how I manage people.”

The team execute attractive rugby, which was clearly evident in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Gallic player was part of the opposing team beaten in the Champions Cup in April when the winger scored a hat-trick. He was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants experience, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his communication was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He said to be coached, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock offers a particular energy. Has he coached an individual comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s unique but Pollock is distinct and special in many ways. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

Pollock’s spectacular try against the Irish side last season demonstrated his freakish ability, but some of his demonstrative in-game antics have brought accusations of arrogance.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “And Henry’s not joking around the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I feel on occasion it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and a positive influence to have around.”

Not many directors of rugby would describe themselves as having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with his co-coach.

“Together possess an curiosity regarding different things,” he explains. “We have a book club. He wants to see everything, aims to learn everything, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on many things away from the game: movies, books, ideas, creativity. When we faced Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more match in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the domestic league will be short-lived because the Champions Cup kicks in next week. Pau, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I refuse to be presumptuous to the extent to {