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Northampton is hardly the most glamorous location on the planet, but its rugby union team offers an abundance of romance and adventure.

In a place known for footwear manufacturing, you might expect punting to be the Northampton's primary strategy. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors opt to keep ball in hand.

Despite embodying a quintessentially English location, they exhibit a panache associated with the finest French practitioners of attacking rugby.

Since Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the Premiership and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by Leinster in a penultimate round earlier.

They lead the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to their West Country rivals on matchday as the just one without a loss, aiming for a first win at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 elite games for various teams altogether, always planned to be a trainer.

“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “Yet as you mature, you realise how much you love the sport, and what the real world entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you grasp what you have going for you.”

Conversations with former mentors culminated in a job at the Saints. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson leads a squad progressively crammed with national team players: key individuals started for the national side against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s perfect autumn while the number ten, in time, will assume the No 10 jersey.

Is the rise of this exceptional cohort because of the team's ethos, or is it luck?

“It is a mix of each,” says Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also namechecks his predecessor, a former boss at the club's home, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be guided by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he notes. “Mallinder had a major effect on my rugby life, my coaching, how I manage individuals.”

The team play entertaining football, which became obvious in the instance of Anthony Belleau. The import was involved with the Clermont XV overcome in the European competition in the spring when the winger notched a hat-trick. He was impressed to such an extent to buck the pattern of UK players heading across the Channel.

“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants experience, for the chance to test himself,’ my contact said. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with him and his language skills was outstanding, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He said to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a unique energy. Has he coached a player similar? “Never,” Dowson responds. “Each person is original but Henry is different and unique in many ways. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

The player's sensational try against their opponents last season showcased his freakish ability, but a few of his demonstrative during matches actions have resulted in allegations of cockiness.

“At times comes across as overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around the whole time. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s not a clown. I believe at times it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s bright and good fun to have around.”

Not many managers would claim to have sharing a close bond with a head coach, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with his co-coach.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he says. “We maintain a book club. He wants to see all aspects, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We talk about lots of topics beyond the sport: movies, literature, ideas, culture. When we played the Parisian club in the past season, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”

Another date in France is coming up: The Saints' reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the European tournament kicks in soon. Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the Bulls arrive at soon after.

“I refuse to be arrogant enough to {