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This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous destination globally, but its rugby union team delivers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a town renowned for boot‑making, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ modus operandi. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite representing a typically British location, they exhibit a flair associated with the greatest Gallic masters of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have claimed victory in the Premiership and progressed well in the European competition – beaten by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final earlier.

They lead the league standings after four wins and a draw and head to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the sole undefeated team, seeking a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who participated in 262 premier games for multiple clubs altogether, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“When I played, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “However as you mature, you comprehend how much you love the rugby, and what the normal employment looks like. I had a stint at a banking firm doing a trial period. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was tough – you realise what you possess and lack.”

Conversations with former mentors culminated in a job at Northampton. Move forward eight years and Dowson leads a team increasingly filled with national team players: prominent figures were selected for the national side versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a major effect off the bench in England’s perfect autumn while Fin Smith, eventually, will take over the No 10 jersey.

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

“This is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “I would acknowledge the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a collective is definitely one of the reasons they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a key figure. “It was my good fortune to be guided by really interesting people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my professional journey, my management style, how I interact with others.”

Northampton execute attractive football, which proved literally true in the instance of the French fly-half. The import was part of the French club defeated in the European competition in the spring when Freeman scored a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw enough to go against the flow of UK players joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend phoned me and remarked: ‘We know of a French 10 who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We lack the money for a French fly-half. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my mate told me. That interested me. We spoke to Anthony and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a sense of humour.

“We questioned: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be pushed, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging Pollock offers a particular vitality. Does he know anyone like him? “No,” Dowson responds. “Everyone’s original but Pollock is distinct and special in many ways. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s sensational try against Leinster last season demonstrated his freakish skill, but a few of his demonstrative in-game antics have led to allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion seems cocky in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson clarifies. “And he's being serious the whole time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel on occasion it’s portrayed 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 head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with Sam Vesty.

“Sam and I have an curiosity about diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a reading group. He desires to explore all aspects, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter different things, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We discuss numerous things beyond rugby: films, literature, concepts, culture. When we faced the Parisian club previously, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more match in Gall is looming: The Saints' reacquaintance with the Prem will be brief because the continental event intervenes soon. Their next opponents, in the shadow of the border region, are up first on the coming weekend before the Pretoria-based club visit soon after.

“I’m not going to be arrogant to the extent to {