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Northampton isn't exactly the most exotic destination globally, but its squad provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a place famous for shoe production, you might expect boot work to be the Northampton's modus operandi. But under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.

Despite playing for a distinctly UK location, they display a panache typical of the finest French practitioners of expansive play.

After Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the English top flight and advanced far in the continental tournament – beaten by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by Dublin-based club in a last-four clash previously.

They sit atop the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, seeking a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who played 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester altogether, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “However as you mature, you comprehend how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the normal employment is like. I spent some time at a financial institution doing work experience. You do the commute a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you have going for you.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a role at the Saints. Fast-forward eight years and Dowson manages a roster ever more packed with national team players: key individuals were selected for England facing the New Zealand two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence off the bench in the national team's successful series while the number ten, in time, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this exceptional group because of the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a collective is certainly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by highly engaging people,” he notes. “Mallinder had a significant influence on my rugby life, my management style, how I interact with people.”

The team play appealing football, which was clearly evident in the example of Anthony Belleau. The import was involved with the Clermont XV defeated in the continental tournament in last season when Tommy Freeman registered a three tries. The player was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate rang me and said: ‘We know of a Gallic number ten who’s looking for a team,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no funds for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the chance to prove his worth,’ my mate told me. That interested me. We had a conversation with him and his English was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Pollock offers a particular vitality. Has he encountered an individual comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is original but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s fearless to be authentic.”

His spectacular try against the Irish side previously demonstrated his exceptional talent, but some of his demonstrative during matches actions have led to allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his behavior, but he’s not,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I believe at times it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

Not many coaches would describe themselves as enjoying a tight friendship with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Sam Vesty.

“Together possess an inquisitiveness around various topics,” he says. “We maintain a literary circle. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand each detail, wants to experience new experiences, and I think I’m the same.

“We talk about lots of topics away from rugby: films, literature, concepts, culture. When we met Stade [Français] last year, the landmark was being done up, so we had a quick look.”

Another fixture in Gall is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be brief because the continental event takes over next week. The French side, in the vicinity of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on matchday before the South African team arrive at the following weekend.

“I won't be arrogant enough to {