Now we can win on the road - Meeuws

"I know we're top of our Pool - perhaps against the bookies predictions - and it feels great," said the former All Blacks prop.

"Of course every team aspires to go as far as they can in the tournament and it's certainly what we are doing but, with such a tough Pool, I think we have so far probably done better than anyone expected. Now we just have to keep our heads and build on it.

"And the win at Gloucester doesn't make this any less of a must-win game against Leinster. The most important impact it has had on us is in terms of confidence.

"For the guys to know that they can now go outside of France and not under-perform and come back with the result is massive for us. We wanted to play well and we are planning to do the same against Leinster.

"I think that our performance against Leinster will be stronger because of the belief that we can turn them over."

Despite 45 caps for New Zealand, Meeuws never met Ireland in a Test match and so his total experience of Irish rugby is limited to

Castres' defeat by Munster in last year's Pool stages, but he believes that collectively they are clued up on what the Irish have to offer.

"Although Agen have never played an Irish team in European competitions, several players have met Ireland on the international scene and, as so many of the Irish squad are from Leinster, we have a pretty good idea what to expect," he said.

"Although Leinster have a strong pack, what we're really wary of is their back line. They have a really strong wide attacking play and, if we are to be successful, the first thing we need to do is to close them down and prevent them from making breaks, because they'll be very hard to stop once they have some momentum behind them.

"Ireland are the strongest team in the northern hemisphere at the moment and Leinster have a squad who have been together for a while now, playing both domestic and international rugby together.

"They have a high-tempo game which comes from knowing each other really well. They are certainly going to be tough.

"The good news for us is that Caucau (Rupeni Caucaunibuca) will be back for us. He played at the weekend without any problems and it's really important for us to have him on the pitch.

"He gives us a big confidence boost and improves our game by 10 to 20 per cent. Just knowing that, if we get turnover ball and give him a bit of space anything can happen gives us the motivation to try harder in the tackle area and keep up our work rate.

"So often one of his tries from nothing will win a game for us and knowing that can happen gets rid of the panic and enables us to concentrate on the game more.

"He also worries the opposition defence and his size, combined with his speed, makes him a nightmare to contain and the hesitation that can bring about often gives us the space we need in other areas."