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This English town isn't exactly the most glamorous destination globally, but its club offers plenty of thrills and drama.

In a city famous for boot‑making, you would think boot work to be the Saints’ modus operandi. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in their distinctive colors choose to retain possession.

Although embodying a distinctly UK community, they exhibit a style synonymous with the greatest French masters of expansive play.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the Premiership and advanced far in the continental tournament – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and knocked out by Leinster in a semi-final previously.

They sit atop the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and travel to their West Country rivals on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, seeking a initial success at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for multiple clubs in total, always planned to be a manager.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “However as you mature, you comprehend how much you appreciate the game, and what the everyday life is like. I worked briefly at a banking firm doing a trial period. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was difficult – you see what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with club legends culminated in a job at the Saints. Move forward eight years and Dowson guides a roster ever more filled with national team players: prominent figures lined up for England versus the New Zealand two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence from the replacements in the national team's perfect autumn while the fly-half, down the line, will assume the pivotal position.

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

“It is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a collective is definitely one of the factors they are so united and so gifted.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, a former boss at their stadium, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be guided by really interesting individuals,” he says. “Mallinder had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I manage others.”

Saints play attractive football, which proved literally true in the case of Anthony Belleau. The Frenchman was involved with the French club beaten in the continental tournament in last season when Freeman scored a three tries. Belleau was impressed enough to go against the flow of British stars moving to France.

“An associate phoned me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘We lack the money for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate told me. That caught my attention. We met with Anthony and his English was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be challenged, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the Top 14. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the young Pollock provides a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered anyone like him? “Not really,” Dowson answers. “Everyone’s unique but Henry is different and unique in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

His breathtaking score against Leinster last season illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his expressive in-game actions have resulted in accusations of arrogance.

“On occasion comes across as arrogant in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus Pollock is being serious constantly. Tactically he has contributions – he’s no fool. I think sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and a positive influence in the squad.”

Not many managers would claim to have sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Vesty.

“Sam and I possess an inquisitiveness regarding diverse subjects,” he says. “We run a reading group. He aims to discover all aspects, aims to learn everything, aims to encounter different things, and I think I’m the similar.

“We discuss lots of things outside the game: movies, literature, ideas, culture. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the landmark was undergoing restoration, so we had a quick look.”

One more fixture in Gall is coming up: Northampton’s return with the Prem will be brief because the European tournament takes over shortly. Pau, in the vicinity of the Pyrenees, are up first on the coming weekend before the South African team visit soon after.

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