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Northampton isn't exactly the most exotic destination globally, but its squad offers an abundance of thrills and drama.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold opt to keep ball in hand.

Although playing for a distinctly UK community, they display a panache typical of the greatest French practitioners of champagne rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, the Saints have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.

They sit atop the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and visit Bristol on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “But as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the game, and what the real world entails. I had a stint at a banking firm doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a position at Northampton. Move forward several seasons and Dowson manages a squad ever more packed with internationals: prominent figures lined up for England versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, in time, will assume the No 10 jersey.

Is the emergence of this outstanding group due to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by really interesting individuals,” he notes. “He had a significant influence on my rugby life, my coaching, how I interact with others.”

The team play entertaining the game, which became obvious in the example of Anthony Belleau. The import was part of the French club beaten in the Champions Cup in April when the winger registered a hat-trick. The player was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate called me and stated: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We don’t have money for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend told me. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with Anthony and his communication was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock provides a unique vitality. Has he coached an individual like him? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s unique but he is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

The player's spectacular touchdown against the Irish side last season demonstrated his exceptional skill, but a few of his expressive on-field behavior have led to allegations of overconfidence.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “Plus Pollock is being serious the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I think on occasion it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

Not many coaches would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I share an curiosity about various topics,” he notes. “We have a reading group. He wants to see various elements, wants to know everything, aims to encounter new experiences, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We talk about lots of subjects outside the game: cinema, books, ideas, culture. When we met our French rivals last year, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further fixture in France is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be brief because the Champions Cup intervenes next week. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I refuse to be overconfident to the extent to {