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Northampton isn't exactly the most glamorous destination globally, but its squad delivers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a city famous for boot‑making, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors opt to keep ball in hand.

Despite representing a quintessentially English community, they exhibit a flair typical of the finest Gallic practitioners of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and advanced far in the European competition – beaten by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and eliminated by Leinster in a semi-final before that.

They lead the competition ladder after a series of victories and one tie and visit Ashton Gate on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, chasing a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he remarks. “But as you age, you realise how much you love the sport, and what the normal employment entails. I had a stint at a financial institution doing an internship. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was challenging – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a role at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson leads a team increasingly filled with national team players: key individuals lined up for the national side against the New Zealand two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a major effect from the replacements in England’s flawless campaign while Fin Smith, eventually, will take over the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this outstanding generation because of the team's ethos, or is it luck?

“It is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had some tough days. But the exposure they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, another predecessor at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be mentored by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he says. “Mallinder had a big impact on my rugby life, my training methods, how I interact with people.”

The team play appealing football, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The import was involved with the French club defeated in the European competition in the spring when Freeman notched a hat-trick. The player admired the style sufficiently to buck the pattern of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We don’t have money for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend told me. That intrigued us. We met with Belleau and his language skills was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We asked: ‘What do you want from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and beyond the French league. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old Henry Pollock brings a unique vitality. Does he know a player like him? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “All players are individual but Henry is distinct and special in many ways. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

His spectacular score against their opponents last season illustrated his unusual skill, but a few of his animated on-field antics have led to allegations of arrogance.

“At times appears arrogant in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “And he's being serious the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think at times it’s shown that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and good fun within the team.”

Hardly any coaches would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Vesty.

“We both share an interest regarding diverse subjects,” he notes. “We run a reading group. He wants to see various elements, seeks to understand everything, desires to try varied activities, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We discuss numerous subjects beyond rugby: cinema, reading, ideas, art. When we played Stade [Français] previously, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further date in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' reacquaintance with the English competition will be brief because the European tournament kicks in soon. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club travel to a week later.

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