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This English town is hardly the most tropical destination globally, but its club provides plenty of thrills and drama.

In a city renowned for footwear manufacturing, you might expect boot work to be the Saints’ main approach. However under head coach Phil Dowson, the side in green, black and gold prefer to run with the ball.

Despite playing for a quintessentially English community, they display a style typical of the greatest Gallic masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and fellow coach Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have secured the domestic league and progressed well in the European competition – beaten by Bordeaux-Bègles in the previous campaign's decider and knocked out by the Irish province in a penultimate round before that.

They sit atop the league standings after four wins and a draw and head to Ashton Gate on matchday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be typical to think Dowson, who played 262 premier fixtures for various teams in total, had long intended to be a coach.

“As a professional, I never seriously considered it,” he states. “Yet as you get older, you realise how much you appreciate the rugby, and what the real world looks like. I worked briefly at a financial institution doing an internship. You travel to work a few times, and it was challenging – you see what you have going for you.”

Discussions with club legends led to a position at the Saints. Jump ahead several seasons and Dowson leads a squad progressively crammed with national team players: Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Mitchell and Alex Coles started for the national side facing the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

An emerging talent also had a profound impact from the replacements in the national team's successful series while Fin Smith, eventually, will inherit the pivotal position.

Is the rise of this outstanding group because of the Saints’ culture, or is it luck?

“It's a combination of the two,” comments Dowson. “I would acknowledge an ex-coach, who gave them opportunities, and we had some tough days. But the practice they had as a unit is undoubtedly one of the factors they are so united and so skilled.”

Dowson also cites Jim Mallinder, another predecessor at their stadium, as a significant mentor. “It was my good fortune to be guided by highly engaging individuals,” he adds. “He had a major effect on my professional journey, my management style, how I interact with individuals.”

Northampton execute attractive the game, which became obvious in the case of their new signing. The Frenchman was a member of the French club beaten in the European competition in April when the winger registered a hat-trick. He admired the style sufficiently to buck the pattern of British stars heading across the Channel.

“A mate phoned me and stated: ‘We've found a French 10 who’s seeking a side,’” Dowson says. “I said: ‘We don’t have budget for a French fly-half. A different option will have to wait.’

‘He wants new challenges, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my friend informed me. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his communication was outstanding, he was eloquent, he had a witty personality.

“We asked: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be trained, to be driven, to be outside his comfort zone and beyond the Top 14. I was saying: ‘Come on in, you’re a great person.’ And he proved to be. We’re lucky to have him.”

Dowson states the 20-year-old the flanker offers a unique enthusiasm. Does he know a player comparable? “Not really,” Dowson responds. “Everyone’s individual but he is different and unique in many ways. He’s not afraid to be authentic.”

His spectacular score against the Irish side last season illustrated his freakish talent, but various his demonstrative during matches actions have led to allegations of cockiness.

“At times appears cocky in his actions, but he’s not,” Dowson says. “Plus he's not taking the piss the whole time. Game-wise he has contributions – he’s a smart player. I believe at times it’s portrayed that he’s just this idiot. But he’s intelligent and great to have within the team.”

Few directors of rugby would admit to sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his relationship with Vesty.

“Together have an inquisitiveness about different things,” he says. “We maintain a literary circle. He aims to discover all aspects, wants to know each detail, desires to try varied activities, and I think I’m the alike.

“We discuss lots of subjects outside the game: cinema, literature, thoughts, art. When we faced our French rivals last year, the landmark was being done up, so we had a little wander around.”

Another date in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s return with the English competition will be brief because the European tournament intervenes next week. Their next opponents, in the foothills of the Pyrenees, are the opening fixture on matchday before the Bulls travel to the following weekend.

“I’m not going to be presumptuous enough to {