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This English town isn't exactly the most tropical location globally, but its club provides plenty of thrills and drama.

In a town renowned for shoe production, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ modus operandi. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold choose to retain possession.

Despite playing for a distinctly UK community, they display a flair typical of the greatest French exponents of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and eliminated by the Irish province in a semi-final before that.

They currently top the league standings after four wins and a draw and head to Ashton Gate on Saturday as the sole undefeated team, aiming for a initial success at Bristol's home since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who played 262 top-flight fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester combined, had long intended to be a trainer.

“During my career, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “However as you mature, you realise how much you enjoy the game, and what the real world entails. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing an internship. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was tough – you realise what you have going for you.”

Discussions with former mentors resulted in a job at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson leads a team 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 profound impact off the bench in the national team's perfect autumn while the number ten, down the line, will assume the No 10 jersey.

Is the emergence of this outstanding cohort because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I’d credit Chris Boyd, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also cites Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be coached by highly engaging individuals,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my professional journey, my coaching, how I interact with people.”

Saints demonstrate appealing football, which was clearly evident in the instance of the French fly-half. The Gallic player was involved with the French club defeated in the Champions Cup in the spring when Tommy Freeman notched a hat-trick. Belleau liked what he saw sufficiently to go against the flow of English talent heading across the Channel.

“A friend rang me and remarked: ‘We've found a fly-half from France who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson says. “I replied: ‘We don’t have money for a imported playmaker. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for new challenges, for the opportunity to test himself,’ my contact told me. That caught my attention. We spoke to Belleau and his communication was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be in a new environment and away from the French league. I was thinking: ‘Join us, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson says the emerging Pollock brings a unique enthusiasm. Has he encountered a player similar? “No,” Dowson replies. “All players are original but Pollock is distinct and special in many ways. He’s fearless to be himself.”

The player's breathtaking try against their opponents in the past campaign illustrated his exceptional ability, but a few of his animated in-game behavior have brought claims of arrogance.

“On occasion appears cocky in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson clarifies. “And Henry’s not taking the piss all the time. Tactically he has ideas – he’s not a clown. I believe sometimes it’s portrayed that he’s merely a joker. But he’s intelligent and good fun to have around.”

Few coaches would admit to having a bromance with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his relationship with Vesty.

“We both have an inquisitiveness about various topics,” he notes. “We run a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand everything, aims to encounter new experiences, and I think I’m the alike.

“We talk about many subjects away from the sport: movies, literature, thoughts, culture. When we met the Parisian club previously, Notre-Dame was undergoing restoration, so we had a little wander around.”

A further date in France is coming up: Northampton’s comeback with the English competition will be short-lived because the European tournament kicks in shortly. Pau, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on matchday before the Bulls travel to the following weekend.

“I refuse to be overconfident to the extent to {