TEAMWORK will be all-important at Donnybrook tomorrow night, insists Newport coach Ian McIntosh, who seeks to put one over on old adversary Matt Williams, in charge of the free running Leinster side, writes Robin Davey.

The pair met in the Super 12 competition when McIntosh (pictured) was coach of Natal Sharks and Williams was at the helm for New South Wales.

The score stands at 1-1 with one draw. "Matt and I go back, he's a very good coach well up with modern techniques," said McIntosh.

"The battle will lie with teamwork. The side that wins the day will do so on teamwork, I'm totally convinced on that.

"Toulouse were one heck of a side, very strong and physical and Munster were huge. "They're all big games, but that's fantastic and it's why we're looking forward to it. "We'll only really know on Friday, but we've shown we can beat these sides - if we get our game going.

"Leinster have got some very good players like Brian O'Driscoll, but I've always been a coach who is concerned with how we play as a team. I'm more concerned with what we do."

McIntosh is fascinated by the comparisons between rugby in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, and one thing that amazes him here is the atmosphere generated. "We get big crowds back home, but here the atmosphere at grounds like Newport is fantastic, I'm absolutely amazed by it," he said.

"We're probably a bit more reserved at home, here people are involved the whole time. It's a fantastic atmosphere, I've really enjoyed it, you've got to experience it. "The thing that is so nice about the Heineken Cup is a lot of players who haven't had international experience can play.

"This is as close as it gets, it's a fantastic opportunity and it's so good for Northern Hemisphere rugby.

"But as I've said before these games are as big as you make them in your own mind. Sometimes, you make it too big, but Leinster will be as worried about us as we are about them."

And on the subject of a play-off between the Northern and Sourthern Hemisphere champions, McIntosh is in favour with reservations.

"A play-off would be good, but only if it doesn't give players any more rugby," he said. "They play far too much rugby, the Springboks have just finished playing all the year round.

"It would be good for both, but you can't compare one with the other. They are different set-ups and the Southern Hemisphere have different fields to play on. "We'll never know until we play one another regularly."