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This English town is hardly the most exotic location in the world, but its club delivers plenty of thrills and drama.

In a town famous for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate boot work to be the Saints’ primary strategy. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the team in the club's hues prefer to retain possession.

Even though playing for a quintessentially English town, they display a style associated with the best Gallic masters of champagne rugby.

Since Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – losing to a French side in last season’s final and ousted by Leinster in a semi-final previously.

They lead the league standings after a series of victories and one tie and head to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, chasing a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who featured in 262 top-flight fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, always planned to be a trainer.

“As a professional, I hadn't given it much thought,” he says. “Yet as you mature, you understand how much you love the sport, and what the real world entails. I had a stint at a banking firm doing an internship. You travel to work a few times, and it was difficult – you grasp what you do and don’t have.”

Conversations with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a job at the Saints. Fast-forward several seasons and Dowson guides a squad ever more crammed with national team players: key individuals were selected for the national side versus the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

The young flanker also had a major effect as a substitute in England’s flawless campaign while the number ten, eventually, will assume the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this outstanding group because of the club's environment, or is it luck?

“This is a combination of the two,” says Dowson. “My thanks go to Chris Boyd, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the experience they had as a group is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so close-knit and so skilled.”

Dowson also namechecks Mallinder, an earlier coach at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be guided by highly engaging people,” he notes. “Jim had a big impact on my rugby life, my training methods, how I interact with individuals.”

Saints demonstrate attractive the game, which proved literally true in the instance of their new signing. The import was part of the opposing team overcome in the Champions Cup in April when Freeman registered a hat-trick. He admired the style enough to buck the pattern of British stars moving to France.

“A friend called me and remarked: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s in search of a team,’” Dowson says. “My response was: ‘We lack the funds for a overseas star. Thomas Ramos will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the possibility to prove his worth,’ my friend said. That intrigued us. We spoke to him and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He answered to be guided, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the French league. I was like: ‘Come on in, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he turned out to be. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson states the young Pollock provides a specific enthusiasm. Does he know a player like him? “Never,” Dowson answers. “Each person is unique but he is different and unique in numerous aspects. He’s unafraid to be authentic.”

The player's breathtaking score against the Irish side in the past campaign illustrated his freakish ability, but a few of his demonstrative during matches behavior have resulted in allegations of cockiness.

“On occasion comes across as overconfident in his actions, but he’s far from it,” Dowson asserts. “Furthermore Pollock is not joking around the whole time. Tactically he has input – he’s no fool. I think on occasion it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have to have around.”

Few managers would describe themselves as sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson frames his connection with his co-coach.

“We both possess an interest about different things,” he notes. “We run a book club. He wants to see all aspects, seeks to understand each detail, aims to encounter new experiences, and I think I’m the alike.

“We talk about numerous things beyond rugby: films, reading, ideas, culture. When we played our French rivals last year, the landmark was under renovation, so we had a brief exploration.”

Another match in the French nation is coming up: The Saints' return with the English competition will be short-lived because the continental event takes over shortly. Pau, in the shadow of the mountain range, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Bulls visit the following weekend.

“I refuse to be arrogant sufficiently to {