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This English town is hardly the most tropical destination in the world, but its squad provides plenty of excitement and passion.

In a town famous for boot‑making, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in their distinctive colors prefer to retain possession.

Despite embodying a distinctly UK community, they display a style synonymous with the finest French masters of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have secured the Premiership and progressed well in the Champions Cup – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and eliminated by the Irish province in a last-four clash earlier.

They currently top the Prem table after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to their West Country rivals on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, had long intended to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “However as you age, you comprehend how much you appreciate the sport, and what the everyday life entails. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing a trial period. You make the journey a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Talks with club legends culminated in a role at the Saints. Move forward a decade and Dowson leads a roster increasingly crammed with national team players: prominent figures were selected for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence off the bench in the national team's flawless campaign while the fly-half, eventually, will take over the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this exceptional group due to the Saints’ culture, or is it chance?

“This is a bit of both,” comments Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also cites his predecessor, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be coached by highly engaging people,” he notes. “He had a major effect on my rugby life, my training methods, how I manage people.”

Saints execute entertaining rugby, which was clearly evident in the example of the French fly-half. The import was involved with the opposing team defeated in the continental tournament in April when Tommy Freeman scored a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to buck the pattern of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson explains. “I replied: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my contact told me. That intrigued us. We had a conversation with him and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old the flanker brings a particular energy. Has he coached anyone like him? “No,” Dowson answers. “All players are original but Pollock is distinct and special in many ways. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

The player's spectacular try against their opponents in the past campaign illustrated his freakish talent, but various his demonstrative in-game actions have led to accusations of cockiness.

“On occasion appears overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “Plus he's being serious constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and good fun in the squad.”

Few managers would claim to have having a bromance with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with his co-coach.

“We both have an interest around diverse subjects,” he notes. “We have a book club. He wants to see various elements, aims to learn each detail, aims to encounter varied activities, and I believe I’m the same.

“We discuss lots of subjects away from rugby: movies, books, ideas, culture. When we played our French rivals previously, the cathedral was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further match in France is coming up: The Saints' comeback with the Prem will be temporary because the Champions Cup intervenes next week. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team travel to soon after.

“I’m not going to be presumptuous enough to {