NEWPORT will play their next Heineken Cup clash against Leinster at Ireland's international ground, Lansdowne Road.

Newport followed up their cracking away victory over Newcastle with a last ditch 21-20 win against Toulouse in front of a 9,180 crowd at Rodney Parade on Saturday night. Now they move on to Leinster, who are the form team of Europe and have won every game they have played this season.

They top Pool Six ahead of Newport, the only Welsh side to have won both Heineken Cup games, because of a better try count, eight to five.

Leinster have asked the Irish Rugby Union for permission to use Lansdowne Road for the Newport game instead of their normal Donnybrook ground, and it has been granted. And that could mean a 20,000 crowd for the Friday night fixture.

Shane Howarth, Newport's man-of-the-match against Newcastle and Toulouse with a 35-point haul from both matches, believes Newport can end Leinster's unbeaten record. "It's a two-match series (Newport also face them in the Celtic League quarter-finals) and we could sneak it," said Howarth.

Coach Ian McIntosh refused to be drawn. "Leinster is not our next game, that is against Swansea," he said, the match at Rodney Parade having been switched to Friday night, October 19.

Newport and Tony Brown in particular were given another huge boost after Saturday's game when European officials gave Rodney Parade a major vote of confidence. They were particularly impressed by the family village. "No other club in Europe has got this," said one official.

And another lift came from Newport's Wales lock Ian Gough. He played his first game since May's cup final on Saturday, testing his damaged shoulder for Newport Under-21s at Swansea and coming through with flying colours in his side's 21-5 victory.

*PICTURED: Simon Raiwalui and Peter Buxton celebrate Newport's victory