Iestyn Thomas, the former Pontypool and Ebbw Vale loose head prop now with Llanelli, has declared: "We have got to meet fire with fire" as Wales prepare to meet Tonga on Sunday.

Thomas follows in the footsteps of the Pontypool front row and lives on the outskirts of the town, today calling the famous trio his 'boyhood heroes.'

He expects the Tongans to throw down the gauntlet big time because if they lose they are virtually out of the World Cup. And Thomas is ready for their notorious head high tackles, one of which got their captain yellow carded after 90 seconds against Italy yesterday.

"They've got everything to go for and we've got to meet fire with fire," said Thomas at Wales' Canberra Raiders training ground this morning in glorious weather.

"Tonga will be right up there, especially if we stand off them and allow them to come at us.

"Their head high tackles don't bother me. If they do any of that they can have it back.

"It's a crunch game for us as well. If we come through this one we're virtually in the quarter-finals.

"We've got to wear them down and tire them out and if we do that we'll create the chances for our backs."

Thomas knows a fair bit about the Tongan style, having played with or against them back in Wales.

"You know what to expect," he said. "You've got to take them on and you've got to hurt them.

"They're a big, physical side and they put in a lot of big hits. They can't be taken lightly." Thomas' regular place in the side is now coming under pressure from Duncan Jones, a fact he acknowledges.

"Duncan played extremely well against Canada," he admitted. "The place is there to be played for and you need to keep performing.

"The boys did really well against Canada, they stuck to the game plan and it paid off." Thomas is the latest prop to roll off the Pontypool production line and he admitted:

"There is a huge tradition for front row forwards. The Pontypool front row ('Charlie' Faulkner, Bobby Windsor and Graham Price) were my boyhood heroes, they are legends in Pontypool and it's something I would like to emulate.

"You've got to be able to do it all, in defence and carrying the ball as well as in the scrum. Now, if we can get two World Cup wins, we'll be on a roll which is always important."