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Northampton is hardly the most tropical destination in the world, but its club provides an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for shoe production, you would think punting to be the Saints’ main approach. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold choose to retain possession.

Although representing a distinctly UK community, they showcase a style typical of the greatest Gallic exponents of attacking rugby.

Since Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the English top flight and progressed well in the European competition – defeated by their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by Leinster in a semi-final earlier.

They sit atop the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and visit their West Country rivals on matchday as the just one without a loss, chasing a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “Yet as you get older, you comprehend how much you enjoy the sport, and what the real world is like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing a trial period. You do the commute a few times, and it was difficult – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a role at the Saints. Move forward eight years and Dowson manages a team ever more packed with internationals: prominent figures started for England versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s perfect autumn while Fin Smith, down the line, will assume the No 10 jersey.

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

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a unit is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he adds. “He had a big impact on my professional journey, my coaching, how I manage individuals.”

The team play entertaining rugby, which became obvious in the case of their new signing. The import was part of the Clermont XV beaten in the continental tournament in last season when Freeman scored a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw sufficiently to reverse the trend of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate rang me and said: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We don’t have funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

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

“We asked: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘Join us, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Pollock brings a particular vitality. Does he know an individual similar? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “Each person is original but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

His sensational touchdown against the Irish side in the past campaign demonstrated his unusual ability, but some of his expressive during matches behavior have brought allegations of overconfidence.

“He sometimes seems cocky in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “And he's not taking the piss the whole time. Tactically he has input – he’s no fool. I believe on occasion it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun within the team.”

Few coaches would claim to have having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with Vesty.

“We both possess an interest about different things,” he says. “We run a literary circle. He aims to discover everything, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I believe I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of subjects beyond the sport: cinema, literature, thoughts, culture. When we played our French rivals in the past season, the cathedral was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more date in France is approaching: The Saints' reacquaintance with the English competition will be brief because the Champions Cup intervenes shortly. The French side, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are up first on the coming weekend before the Bulls arrive at the following weekend.

“I won't be overconfident enough to {