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Northampton is hardly the most exotic location in the world, but its squad provides plenty of thrills and drama.

In a city famous for boot‑making, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues opt to retain possession.

Despite embodying a quintessentially English community, they showcase a style associated with the finest French masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the English top flight and gone deep in the Champions Cup – defeated by a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by Leinster in a last-four clash previously.

They sit atop the league standings after four wins and a draw and travel to Bristol on matchday as the sole undefeated team, chasing a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight games for multiple clubs combined, always planned to be a manager.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “However as you age, you understand how much you love the game, and what the normal employment is like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing a trial period. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you realise what you have going for you.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a position at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson manages a squad progressively crammed with national team players: key individuals were selected for England facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact off the bench in the national team's successful series while the fly-half, in time, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this exceptional generation because of the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?

“It's a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a major influence. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he says. “He had a big impact on my rugby life, my management style, how I manage others.”

Saints demonstrate appealing rugby, which became obvious in the example of Anthony Belleau. The Gallic player was a member of the Clermont XV beaten in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman notched a hat-trick. Belleau liked what he saw to such an extent to go against the flow of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A friend called me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We lack the funds for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my mate told me. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his English was incredible, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson states the emerging the flanker provides a unique enthusiasm. Has he coached a player like him? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s unique but Pollock is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

His sensational try against their opponents last season showcased his exceptional talent, but various his animated during matches antics have resulted in accusations of arrogance.

“At times seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And Pollock is not taking the piss the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I believe on occasion it’s shown that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and a positive influence within the team.”

Hardly any directors of rugby would admit to sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I share an inquisitiveness about different things,” he says. “We have a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, wants to know each detail, aims to encounter different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We discuss many topics away from the sport: movies, reading, concepts, culture. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

A further fixture in Gall is approaching: Northampton’s return with the Prem will be short-lived because the European tournament intervenes soon. Pau, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the South African team travel to soon after.

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