Tigers were beaten 17-10 at the Aviva Stadium as Leinster booked a place in the Heineken Cup semi-finals, but the defending Premiership champions remain top of the domestic table with just three rounds remaining of the regular programme.
“It’s a pretty sombre dressing room,” said Newby in the moments after the final whistle in the Irish capital.
“But I’m always proud of the boys. You know when they come into the dressing room at the end and they are looking pretty spent that they’ve given it everything and couldn’t have given any more.
“It was definitely a step up in terms of intensity at the breakdown. It’s a few years since I played a Test match but I consider it on a level. It worked both ways too, we were giving as good as we got there.
“We didn’t get the bounce of the ball at times, sometimes decisions and plays don’t go the way you want, but that’s rugby. You’ve just got to ensure that you finish those opportunities you make.”
Tigers have already booked a semi-final appearance in the Aviva Premiership and, with three games remaining, the next target is to gain enough points to earn a home tie.
Gloucester are the visitors to Welford Road on Saturday, with a trip to Newcastle Falcons to come at Easter and a home game against London Irish on May 7.
“We’ve got a pretty experienced bunch and a lot of international players plus the young, keen guys, so I think we’ll be all right looking forward,” said Newby.
“We get great support wherever we play and we’re looking forward to getting home next weekend playing in front of that again.”
