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Northampton isn't exactly the most exotic location on the planet, but its squad offers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a city renowned for boot‑making, you might expect kicking to be the Northampton's primary strategy. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues choose to keep ball in hand.

Although embodying a quintessentially English community, they display a flair synonymous with the greatest French exponents of attacking rugby.

Since Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty assumed control in 2022, Northampton have secured the domestic league and gone deep in the Champions Cup – defeated by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by Leinster in a semi-final earlier.

They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and visit Ashton Gate on Saturday as the just one without a loss, aiming for a maiden victory at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite games for multiple clubs combined, had long intended to be a coach.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he remarks. “However as you age, you comprehend how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the normal employment is like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing work experience. You travel to work a few times, and it was tough – you realise what you possess and lack.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson manages a roster ever more filled with internationals: key individuals were selected for England versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a profound impact off the bench in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the development of this exceptional group attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it fortune?

“This is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had difficult periods. But the experience they had as a collective is certainly one of the causes they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, a former boss at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be coached by really interesting personalities,” he says. “He had a big impact on my rugby life, my training methods, how I manage individuals.”

The team execute appealing the game, which became obvious in the instance of their new signing. The import was involved with the opposing team defeated in the European competition in last season when Tommy Freeman scored a hat-trick. The player was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate called me and stated: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We lack the money for a French fly-half. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires new challenges, for the possibility to challenge himself,’ my friend told me. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his language skills was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be trained, to be challenged, to be in a new environment and beyond the domestic competition. I was thinking: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging the flanker provides a particular enthusiasm. Has he encountered a player similar? “Never,” Dowson responds. “Each person is unique but he is different and unique in many ways. He’s unafraid to be who he is.”

His spectacular touchdown against their opponents in the past campaign showcased his unusual skill, but some of his expressive in-game actions have brought allegations of overconfidence.

“At times seems overconfident in his behavior, but he’s far from it,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is being serious constantly. Game-wise he has input – he’s not a clown. I think at times it’s portrayed that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and good fun within the team.”

Not many coaches would claim to have having a bromance with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his partnership with Vesty.

“Sam and I share an curiosity around different things,” he notes. “We have a reading group. He wants to see all aspects, wants to know all there is, desires to try new experiences, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We discuss many topics away from rugby: movies, literature, concepts, art. When we faced the Parisian club in the past season, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more match in the French nation is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the domestic league will be short-lived because the continental event intervenes shortly. Their next opponents, in the vicinity of the border region, are the opening fixture on the coming weekend before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I won't be overconfident to the extent to {