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Northampton may not be the most glamorous location in the world, but its squad provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a town known for boot‑making, you would think punting to be the Northampton's main approach. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to run with the ball.

Even though representing a quintessentially English community, they display a panache synonymous with the greatest French exponents of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and progressed well in the Champions Cup – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and eliminated by Dublin-based club in a last-four clash earlier.

They currently top the Prem table after four wins and a draw and visit Bristol on the weekend as the just one without a loss, chasing a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite games for multiple clubs combined, always planned to be a manager.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “But as you age, you realise how much you enjoy the sport, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at a banking firm doing an internship. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was difficult – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with club legends led to a job at the Saints. Jump ahead a decade and Dowson manages a squad increasingly filled with national team players: prominent figures were selected for the Red Rose versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a major effect off the bench in England’s perfect autumn while the fly-half, down the line, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the development of this exceptional group because of the club's environment, or is it chance?

“It is a mix of each,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who thrust them into action, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a unit is definitely one of the factors they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by really interesting personalities,” he notes. “Mallinder had a big impact on my professional journey, my training methods, how I manage individuals.”

Northampton play appealing rugby, which became obvious in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The import was involved with the French club defeated in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger registered a triple. Belleau admired the style enough to buck the pattern of UK players heading across the Channel.

“An associate phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for experience, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my mate informed me. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with him and his English was excellent, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the young Pollock brings a unique enthusiasm. Does he know anyone like him? “No,” Dowson replies. “Each person is individual but Pollock is different and unique in many ways. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

His spectacular touchdown against Leinster previously illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his demonstrative on-field actions have led to allegations of arrogance.

“At times comes across as cocky in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “Plus he's not taking the piss constantly. Game-wise he has input – he’s not a clown. I feel on occasion it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

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

“Together share an curiosity regarding different things,” he notes. “We have a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter different things, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We converse on many topics away from the sport: movies, books, concepts, art. When we met our French rivals in the past season, the landmark was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

Another match in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' reacquaintance with the Prem will be short-lived because the Champions Cup kicks in shortly. Pau, in the foothills of the border region, are the initial challenge on matchday before the South African team visit the following weekend.

“I won't be arrogant to the extent to {