🔗 Share this article

Northampton is hardly the most glamorous spot on the planet, but its club delivers a great deal of thrills and drama.

In a city famous for footwear manufacturing, you would think boot work to be the Northampton's main approach. However under the director of rugby Phil Dowson, the squad in the club's hues opt to run with the ball.

Although embodying a typically British community, they showcase a flair associated with the finest French masters of attacking rugby.

After Dowson and his colleague Sam Vesty took over in 2022, the Saints have claimed victory in the English top flight and advanced far in the Champions Cup – beaten by their Gallic opponents in last season’s final and ousted by Dublin-based club in a last-four clash previously.

They sit atop the league standings after multiple successes and a single stalemate and travel to Bristol on Saturday as the only unbeaten side, aiming for a maiden victory at Ashton Gate since 2021.

It would be natural to think Dowson, who featured in 262 premier matches for Newcastle, Northampton and Worcester in total, consistently aimed to be a manager.

“When I played, I hadn't given it much thought,” he states. “However as you age, you comprehend how much you enjoy the sport, and what the normal employment entails. I had a stint at Metro Bank doing work experience. You do the commute a few times, and it was tough – you realise what you do and don’t have.”

Discussions with Dusty Hare and Jim Mallinder resulted in a position at Northampton. Jump ahead eight years and Dowson manages a squad increasingly packed with global stars: prominent figures lined up for England against the the Kiwis two weeks ago.

Henry Pollock also had a significant influence off the bench in the national team's flawless campaign while the number ten, down the line, will assume the fly-half role.

Is the development of this remarkable generation because of the team's ethos, or is it chance?

“It is a mix of each,” states Dowson. “I’d credit the former director of rugby, who basically just threw them in, and we had difficult periods. But the practice they had as a collective is undoubtedly one of the causes they are so tight and so talented.”

Dowson also namechecks Jim Mallinder, an earlier coach at Franklin’s Gardens, as a key figure. “I’ve been fortunate to be mentored by highly engaging personalities,” he notes. “He had a major effect on my rugby life, my training methods, how I interact with others.”

Saints play appealing football, which was clearly evident in the case of their new signing. The Gallic player was part of the French club defeated in the European competition in last season when Freeman registered a hat-trick. Belleau was impressed enough to buck the pattern of English talent heading across the Channel.

“A mate rang me and stated: ‘There’s a French 10 who’s looking for a side,’” Dowson explains. “I said: ‘We lack the money for a overseas star. Another target will have to wait.’

‘He’s looking for a fresh start, for the opportunity to challenge himself,’ my friend said. That interested me. We had a conversation with Anthony and his language skills was outstanding, he was articulate, he had a sense of humour.

“We inquired: ‘What are your goals from this?’ He responded to be coached, to be pushed, to be outside his comfort zone and away from the domestic competition. I was like: ‘Join us, you’re a legend of a man.’ And he proved to be. We’re blessed to have him.”

Dowson says the 20-year-old the flanker offers a specific energy. Has he encountered an individual comparable? “Never,” Dowson answers. “All players are unique but Henry is different and unique in multiple respects. He’s fearless to be himself.”

The player's breathtaking try against Leinster previously demonstrated his freakish talent, but a few of his demonstrative during matches antics have resulted in accusations of cockiness.

“At times seems cocky in his actions, but he’s the opposite,” Dowson says. “And Henry’s not joking around constantly. Tactically he has input – he’s a smart player. I think on occasion it’s depicted that he’s merely a joker. But he’s clever and great to have within the team.”

Few managers would claim to have sharing a close bond with a assistant, but that is how Dowson characterizes his partnership with his co-coach.

“We both share an curiosity about various topics,” he notes. “We run a reading group. He aims to discover various elements, seeks to understand each detail, wants to experience varied activities, and I feel like I’m the similar.

“We talk about lots of topics beyond rugby: movies, books, ideas, art. When we met our French rivals in the past season, the landmark was being done up, so we had a brief exploration.”

One more fixture in the French nation is coming up: Northampton’s return with the Prem will be brief because the Champions Cup takes over soon. The French side, in the shadow of the border region, are up first on Sunday week before the Pretoria-based club visit a week later.

“I refuse to be presumptuous sufficiently to {