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Northampton may not be the most tropical location globally, but its club delivers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a place famous for shoe production, you would think kicking to be the Northampton's main approach. However under leader Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold prefer to retain possession.

Although representing a distinctly UK town, they exhibit a style associated with the best Gallic practitioners of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the domestic league and advanced far in the Champions Cup – losing to a French side in last season’s final and knocked out by Leinster in a semi-final before that.

They lead the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Ashton Gate on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a first win at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 elite fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “But as you get older, you understand how much you appreciate the sport, and what the everyday life entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing work experience. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was tough – you realise what you possess and lack.”

Talks with former mentors culminated in a position at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson leads a roster ever more filled with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles were selected for the Red Rose facing the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s successful series while the fly-half, eventually, will take over the fly-half role.

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

“It is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be guided by really interesting people,” he says. “Jim had a significant influence on my professional journey, my management style, how I manage others.”

Northampton demonstrate appealing rugby, which was clearly evident in the case of their new signing. The import was a member of the Clermont XV beaten in the Champions Cup in the spring when the winger notched a triple. Belleau admired the style enough to reverse the trend of English talent heading across the Channel.

“An associate called me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘We lack the budget for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my contact said. That intrigued us. We met with Anthony and his English was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He said to be trained, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson comments the young Pollock brings a specific vitality. Does he know an individual similar? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Each person is individual but Henry is different and unique in many ways. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

His spectacular touchdown against their opponents in the past campaign demonstrated his freakish skill, but various his demonstrative during matches antics have brought accusations of overconfidence.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus he's not joking around constantly. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I believe sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and a positive influence in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“We both have an inquisitiveness about various topics,” he explains. “We have a book club. He wants to see various elements, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter different things, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We converse on many topics beyond the game: cinema, books, ideas, culture. When we met the Parisian club previously, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a quick look.”

One more fixture in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the continental event intervenes shortly. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the border region, are the opening fixture on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at a week later.

“I won't be arrogant sufficiently to {