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Northampton isn't exactly the most glamorous spot on the planet, but its squad offers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a town renowned for shoe production, you might expect kicking to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.

Even though embodying a distinctly UK town, they exhibit a panache synonymous with the greatest French masters of expansive play.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the Premiership and gone deep in the Champions Cup – defeated by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a semi-final earlier.

They sit atop the Prem table after four wins and a draw and head to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a first win at Bristol's home since 2021.

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

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “But as you mature, you realise how much you appreciate the game, and what the normal employment entails. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing an internship. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you see what you have going for you.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a position at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson leads a squad ever more filled with global stars: prominent figures were selected for the Red Rose versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence as a substitute in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, in time, will take over the fly-half role.

Is the emergence of this exceptional cohort attributable to the team's ethos, or is it fortune?

“This is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “I’d credit an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so tight and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be mentored by exceptionally insightful individuals,” he adds. “He had a significant influence on my professional journey, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

The team play appealing football, which was clearly evident in the example of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was involved with the French club beaten in the Champions Cup in April when Tommy Freeman scored a triple. He liked what he saw enough to reverse the trend of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend phoned me and stated: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson recalls. “I said: ‘There's no budget for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He desires a fresh start, for the chance to challenge himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We met with Anthony and his language skills was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be coached, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the Top 14. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a unique vitality. Has he encountered a player similar? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Each person is unique but he is unusual and remarkable in numerous aspects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

Pollock’s spectacular touchdown against their opponents previously demonstrated his unusual talent, but some of his animated in-game antics have led to accusations of overconfidence.

“At times appears cocky in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “And he's not joking around constantly. In terms of strategy he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have to have around.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with his co-coach.

“We both possess an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a reading group. He aims to discover everything, aims to learn all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I think I’m the alike.

“We converse on many things away from rugby: movies, books, thoughts, creativity. When we played Stade [Français] in the past season, the cathedral was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

One more date in Gall is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the English competition will be brief because the Champions Cup takes over next week. Pau, in the shadow of the border region, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the Bulls arrive at the following weekend.

“I refuse to be arrogant enough to {