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Northampton is hardly the most exotic spot globally, but its club offers a great deal of romance and adventure.

In a city famous for shoe production, you could anticipate kicking to be the Northampton's modus operandi. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to retain possession.

Although representing a quintessentially English town, they display a panache typical of the greatest French masters of attacking rugby.

From the time Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the domestic league and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to their Gallic opponents in the previous campaign's decider and ousted by Dublin-based club in a semi-final earlier.

They lead the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on the weekend as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for various teams in total, always planned to be a trainer.

“During my career, I didn't really think about it,” he states. “Yet as you age, you realise how much you appreciate the game, and what the real world entails. I spent some time at a financial institution doing an internship. You make the journey a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a role at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson guides a team increasingly packed with global stars: prominent figures lined up for the Red Rose against the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence off the bench in the national team's successful series while the fly-half, in time, will take over the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this remarkable group due to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a group is certainly one of the causes they are so united and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at the club's home, as a major influence. “I’ve been fortunate to be coached by highly engaging personalities,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I interact with others.”

The team demonstrate appealing football, which proved literally true in the instance of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was involved with the Clermont XV overcome in the Champions Cup in the spring when Tommy Freeman scored a three tries. The player was impressed enough to go against the flow of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A friend phoned me and said: ‘There’s a fly-half from France who’s in search of a side,’” Dowson recalls. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the opportunity to prove his worth,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We met with him and his language skills was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We inquired: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He said to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson states the young the flanker provides a particular energy. Has he encountered anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “All players are individual but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

Pollock’s breathtaking try against the Irish side previously demonstrated his unusual ability, but various his demonstrative on-field actions have led to allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion appears cocky in his conduct, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “And Pollock is not joking around constantly. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I believe sometimes it’s depicted that he’s only a character. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”

Hardly any coaches would claim to have enjoying a tight friendship with a colleague, but that is how Dowson characterizes his connection with Vesty.

“We both have an curiosity about various topics,” he explains. “We have a book club. He aims to discover all aspects, seeks to understand all there is, wants to experience new experiences, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We discuss many subjects outside the sport: films, reading, concepts, culture. When we played the Parisian club last year, Notre-Dame was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further match in Gall is approaching: Northampton’s return with the English competition will be brief because the continental event takes over soon. The French side, in the shadow of the Pyrenees, are up first on Sunday week before the South African team travel to soon after.

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