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Northampton may not be the most tropical destination on the planet, but its squad offers an abundance of excitement and passion.

In a place renowned for footwear manufacturing, you would think kicking to be the Saints’ main approach. However under leader Phil Dowson, the squad in their distinctive colors opt to run with the ball.

Despite representing a quintessentially English community, they exhibit a style associated with the greatest French masters of expansive play.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have secured the Premiership and advanced far in the continental tournament – defeated by a French side in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a semi-final before that.

They lead the competition ladder after multiple successes and a single stalemate and head to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, seeking a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight matches for multiple clubs in total, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “However as you mature, you comprehend how much you appreciate the sport, and what the everyday life is like. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You travel to work a multiple instances, and it was tough – you see what you have going for you.”

Conversations with former mentors resulted in a job at Northampton. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson manages a squad progressively packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the national side versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while the fly-half, down the line, will assume the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this outstanding generation due to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also mentions his predecessor, a former boss at the club's home, as a key figure. “I was lucky to be mentored by highly engaging personalities,” he says. “Jim had a major effect on my rugby life, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

The team demonstrate entertaining rugby, which was clearly evident in the instance of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was a member of the opposing team overcome in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman registered a triple. Belleau was impressed sufficiently to reverse the trend of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“A mate phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a Gallic number ten who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson recalls. “I replied: ‘We don’t have budget for a imported playmaker. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the possibility to test himself,’ my mate informed me. That caught my attention. We met with Belleau and his language skills was outstanding, he was well-spoken, he had a funny side.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be in a new environment and away from the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Welcome aboard, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he has been. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson comments the 20-year-old Pollock provides a unique enthusiasm. Has he coached a player similar? “Never,” Dowson replies. “All players are original but Pollock is unusual and remarkable in multiple respects. He’s not afraid to be who he is.”

Pollock’s breathtaking try against the Irish side last season illustrated his freakish ability, but some of his animated during matches antics have brought allegations of overconfidence.

“At times comes across as arrogant in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Plus Henry’s not taking the piss the whole time. Game-wise he has ideas – he’s no fool. I feel on occasion it’s depicted that he’s just this idiot. But he’s clever and great to have in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would claim to have sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Vesty.

“We both possess an inquisitiveness around diverse subjects,” he says. “We maintain a reading group. He aims to discover various elements, seeks to understand all there is, aims to encounter different things, and I believe I’m the same.

“We converse on many topics beyond the game: cinema, books, thoughts, culture. When we played the Parisian club last year, the landmark was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

A further fixture in Gall is approaching: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the Prem will be temporary because the continental event takes over soon. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on Sunday week before the Bulls arrive at soon after.

“I won't be overconfident enough to {