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This English town may not be the most exotic spot on the planet, but its club provides a great deal of thrills and drama.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate punting to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under leader Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold prefer to run with the ball.

Despite embodying a distinctly UK community, they showcase a flair associated with the greatest French masters of champagne rugby.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have won the Premiership and progressed well in the Champions Cup – defeated by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and knocked out by the Irish province in a last-four clash before that.

They sit atop the Prem table after four wins and a draw and head to Bristol on matchday as the just one without a loss, aiming for a maiden victory at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier games for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, always planned to be a coach.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he says. “Yet as you get older, you comprehend how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the real world entails. I spent some time at a banking firm doing work experience. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was tough – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with former mentors led to a position at Northampton. Move forward a decade and Dowson guides a squad ever more packed with internationals: key individuals started for England versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact as a substitute in the national team's successful series while the number ten, eventually, will take over the fly-half role.

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

“This is a combination of the two,” states 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 collective is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, an earlier coach at the club's home, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by highly engaging people,” he adds. “Jim had a major effect on my professional journey, my training methods, how I manage individuals.”

Northampton execute entertaining the game, which proved literally true in the example of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the French club overcome in the European competition in last season when Freeman registered a triple. The player liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate phoned me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson explains. “My response was: ‘We don’t have money for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’

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

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He said to be trained, to be driven, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Henry Pollock brings a particular enthusiasm. Does he know an individual comparable? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “All players are individual but he is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be who he is.”

Pollock’s sensational try against Leinster last season demonstrated his freakish talent, but various his demonstrative in-game antics have resulted in claims of overconfidence.

“At times appears overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson says. “And Henry’s not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has input – he’s a smart player. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and great to have in the squad.”

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

“Together share an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he says. “We maintain a book club. He aims to discover various elements, wants to know everything, wants to experience varied activities, and I feel like I’m the alike.

“We discuss numerous things beyond rugby: movies, reading, concepts, creativity. When we played the Parisian club last year, the landmark was undergoing restoration, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further fixture in the French nation is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the continental event kicks in next week. Pau, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the South African team arrive at soon after.

“I’m not going to be overconfident sufficiently to {