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Northampton is hardly the most tropical spot in the world, but its squad provides a great deal of excitement and passion.

In a place known for boot‑making, you could anticipate boot work to be the Northampton's primary strategy. Yet under head coach Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold opt to run with the ball.

Although embodying a distinctly UK community, they exhibit a panache associated with the best French exponents of expansive play.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the domestic league and progressed well in the European competition – defeated by a French side in the ultimate match and ousted by the Irish province in a penultimate round earlier.

They lead the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and travel to Bristol on the weekend as the just one without a loss, seeking a initial success at their opponent's ground since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 premier matches for various teams altogether, consistently aimed to be a coach.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he says. “But as you get older, you comprehend how much you enjoy the game, and what the everyday life is like. I spent some time at Metro Bank doing work experience. You travel to work a several occasions, and it was challenging – you realise what you have going for you.”

Conversations with former mentors resulted in a role at the Saints. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson leads a roster progressively packed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles lined up for the national side against the New Zealand two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a significant influence as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while Fin Smith, in time, will inherit the fly-half role.

Is the rise of this outstanding generation attributable to the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who thrust them into action, and we had difficult periods. But the exposure they had as a group is definitely one of the reasons they are so tight and so gifted.”

Dowson also mentions Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be coached by really interesting individuals,” he notes. “He had a major effect on my career, my coaching, how I interact with individuals.”

Northampton demonstrate attractive football, which was clearly evident in the example of the French fly-half. The Frenchman was part of the opposing team beaten in the European competition in the spring when Freeman registered a hat-trick. He admired the style enough to buck the pattern of British stars joining Top 14 sides.

“An associate phoned me and remarked: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a club,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We don’t have funds for a imported playmaker. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He desires experience, for the possibility to test himself,’ my contact informed me. That interested me. We met with Belleau and his English was incredible, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We questioned: ‘What do you want from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old the flanker brings a specific enthusiasm. Has he encountered anyone similar? “Not really,” Dowson replies. “Each person is original but Henry is distinct and special in multiple respects. He’s unafraid to be himself.”

His spectacular try against their opponents last season demonstrated his unusual ability, but some of his animated in-game antics have brought allegations of arrogance.

“He sometimes seems arrogant in his conduct, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “Furthermore Henry’s not taking the piss constantly. In terms of strategy he has contributions – he’s not a clown. I believe at times it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s bright and good fun in the squad.”

Not many directors of rugby would admit to sharing a close bond with a colleague, but that is how Dowson describes his connection with his co-coach.

“Together possess an inquisitiveness regarding different things,” he notes. “We run a reading group. He desires to explore various elements, seeks to understand all there is, desires to try new experiences, and I believe I’m the same.

“We talk about lots of topics outside the sport: films, reading, ideas, creativity. When we played the Parisian club last year, Notre-Dame was under renovation, so we had a little wander around.”

One more fixture in the French nation is looming: Northampton’s reacquaintance with the English competition will be short-lived because the European tournament intervenes next week. The French side, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Pretoria-based club visit soon after.

“I refuse to be overconfident enough to {