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Northampton may not be the most tropical destination on the planet, but its club provides a great deal of romance and adventure.

In a town renowned for footwear manufacturing, you could anticipate kicking to be the Saints’ modus operandi. Yet under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in green, black and gold prefer to keep ball in hand.

Even though embodying a quintessentially English town, they exhibit a panache synonymous with the finest Gallic masters of expansive play.

From the time Dowson and the head coach Sam Vesty stepped up in 2022, Northampton have won the Premiership and gone deep in the continental tournament – losing to Bordeaux-Bègles in the ultimate match and knocked out by Dublin-based club in a penultimate round earlier.

They currently top the competition ladder after four wins and a draw and visit their West Country rivals on the weekend as the just one without a loss, aiming for a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be expected to think Dowson, who featured in 262 elite fixtures for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, consistently aimed to be a trainer.

“During my career, I never seriously considered it,” he remarks. “However as you get older, you realise how much you enjoy the rugby, and what the real world is like. I worked briefly at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a several occasions, and it was difficult – you grasp what you possess and lack.”

Conversations with club legends resulted in a role at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson guides a roster ever more crammed with internationals: prominent figures started for the national side versus the All Blacks two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact from the replacements in England’s perfect autumn while the fly-half, down the line, will take over the pivotal position.

Is the emergence of this remarkable cohort due to the club's environment, or is it luck?

“It is a bit of both,” states Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who gave them opportunities, and we had challenging moments. But the experience they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the reasons they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also mentions Mallinder, a former boss at Franklin’s Gardens, as a significant mentor. “I was lucky to be coached by exceptionally insightful personalities,” he notes. “He had a major effect on my career, my training methods, how I manage individuals.”

Saints play entertaining rugby, which was clearly evident in the instance of their new signing. The Frenchman was part of the opposing team defeated in the European competition in last season when Tommy Freeman scored a triple. The player was impressed sufficiently to buck the pattern of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate called me and stated: ‘We know of a fly-half from France who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘There's no money for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He wants a fresh start, for the chance to prove his worth,’ my contact said. That intrigued us. We met with him and his communication was excellent, he was eloquent, he had a funny side.

“We questioned: ‘What are you seeking from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be challenged, to be facing unfamiliar situations and outside the French league. I was thinking: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he has been. We’re fortunate to have him.”

Dowson comments the emerging the flanker offers a specific enthusiasm. Does he know anyone similar? “No,” Dowson replies. “Each person is individual but Henry is distinct and special in many ways. He’s not afraid to be himself.”

His sensational score against the Irish side previously showcased his unusual talent, but various his animated on-field antics have led to accusations of cockiness.

“He sometimes appears overconfident in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson clarifies. “And Pollock is not taking the piss all the time. In terms of strategy he has ideas – he’s a smart player. I believe sometimes it’s shown that he’s only a character. But he’s intelligent and good fun to have around.”

Few directors of rugby would admit to enjoying a tight friendship with a head coach, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Sam Vesty.

“We both have an curiosity about different things,” he says. “We have a book club. He wants to see various elements, wants to know everything, wants to experience different things, and I believe I’m the similar.

“We converse on numerous things away from rugby: cinema, reading, concepts, art. When we played Stade [Français] previously, the landmark was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

A further date in Gall is looming: The Saints' reacquaintance with the English competition will be short-lived because the continental event intervenes soon. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the initial challenge on the coming weekend before the South African team travel to the following weekend.

“I won't be overconfident enough to {