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This English town is hardly the most glamorous location on the planet, but its rugby union team provides an abundance of thrills and drama.

In a place famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. But under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in green, black and gold prefer to keep ball in hand.

Although embodying a quintessentially English town, they display a flair typical of the greatest French masters of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, Northampton have won the domestic league and gone deep in the European competition – losing to a French side in the ultimate match and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final earlier.

They currently top the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Ashton Gate on matchday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who participated in 262 elite fixtures for various teams combined, had long intended to be a trainer.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “However as you get older, you comprehend how much you love the game, and what the everyday life entails. I spent some time at a banking firm doing a trial period. You do the commute a multiple instances, and it was challenging – you see what you possess and lack.”

Talks with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder culminated in a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson guides a roster ever more crammed with global stars: key individuals lined up for England facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a significant influence from the replacements in England’s successful series while Fin Smith, eventually, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this remarkable group attributable to the team's ethos, or is it luck?

“It is a combination of the two,” states Dowson. “My thanks go to the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had challenging moments. But the practice they had as a unit is certainly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so gifted.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be guided by exceptionally insightful people,” he notes. “Jim had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

Saints play attractive the game, which proved literally true in the instance of their new signing. The import was part of the Clermont XV overcome in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman notched a hat-trick. The player liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of English talent joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate rang me and stated: ‘We've found a Gallic number ten who’s seeking a club,’” Dowson recalls. “My response was: ‘There's no money for a overseas star. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants experience, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my contact told me. That caught my attention. We met with him and his communication was incredible, he was well-spoken, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What do you want from this?’ He said to be guided, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and away from the Top 14. I was like: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a fantastic individual.’ And he turned out to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging Pollock brings a unique energy. Has he encountered anyone comparable? “Never,” Dowson replies. “Everyone’s individual but he is unusual and remarkable in many ways. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

Pollock’s breathtaking try against their opponents previously showcased his freakish ability, but some of his animated in-game behavior have led to accusations of cockiness.

“On occasion seems overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Henry’s being serious the whole time. In terms of strategy he has contributions – he’s no fool. I believe on occasion it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”

Few managers would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with Vesty.

“We both share an interest around diverse subjects,” he says. “We have a literary circle. He wants to see all aspects, wants to know each detail, aims to encounter varied activities, and I think I’m the same.

“We discuss lots of subjects away from the sport: cinema, literature, concepts, art. When we met the Parisian club in the past season, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

A further date in France is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be brief because the European tournament takes over soon. Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club travel to soon after.

“I refuse to be presumptuous sufficiently to {