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This English town is hardly the most tropical location globally, but its squad provides plenty of excitement and passion.

In a town famous for shoe production, you could anticipate punting to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite embodying a quintessentially English location, they showcase a flair typical of the finest Gallic practitioners of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in last season’s final and eliminated by Leinster in a semi-final before that.

They currently top the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and travel to Ashton Gate on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier games for multiple clubs in total, always planned to be a trainer.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “But as you get older, you realise how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a role at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson leads a squad increasingly filled with global stars: key individuals lined up for England facing the All Blacks two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's successful series while Fin Smith, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this remarkable group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by highly engaging personalities,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I interact with people.”

Northampton play entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the case of Anthony Belleau. The import was a member of the opposing team defeated in the Champions Cup in last season when Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw enough to go against the flow of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate rang me and remarked: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a club,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We don’t have funds for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We met with him and his communication was incredible, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a specific energy. Does he know an individual comparable? “No,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s original but Henry is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

The player's breathtaking try against Leinster in the past campaign demonstrated his unusual talent, but various his expressive during matches behavior have led to claims of arrogance.

“At times seems cocky in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Plus he's not joking around all the time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I feel at times it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

Few coaches would claim to have sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with his co-coach.

“We both possess an curiosity around different things,” he explains. “We have a book club. He desires to explore all aspects, seeks to understand everything, desires to try varied activities, and I think I’m the similar.

“We talk about many things beyond the game: films, literature, thoughts, culture. When we played our French rivals previously, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

A further match in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s return with the English competition will be short-lived because the European tournament kicks in soon. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the border region, are up first on matchday before the Bulls arrive at soon after.

“I’m not going to be arrogant enough to {