JUSTIN Tipuric first came across Andrew Coombs the back rower at the Talbot Athletic Ground in October 2009, writes Chris Kirwan.

The openside flanker was in the colours of Aberavon while the Dragons captain was in the black and amber of Newport.

Coombs, who scored a try in a 27-20 win, has since moved forward to lock but will have 6 on his back for the first time in two years when Wales take on Tonga this evening.

And Tipuric has no doubts that the 29-year-old, who has watched the autumn Tests against South Africa and Argentina from the stands, will take it all in his stride against the Pacific Islanders at the Millennium Stadium.

"Andrew is a really good player and has been showing good form for the Dragons, this is a chance to show what he can do," said Tipuric.

"It's harder going up to the second row than the other way round and he has played so much in the back row throughout his career.

"I can remember playing against him when he was with Newport and I was at Aberavon.

"He's used to playing there and is a good ball player – as he showed with the offload for (Dragons wing) Tom Prydie's try against us a few weeks ago – and also has his lineout skills."

Tipuric was harshly yellow-carded in the thumping of Argentina for taking out full-back Joaquin Tuculet off the ball. He was frustrated to be penalised let alone sin-binned but has pledged not to change his game.

He said: "The last thing I wanted to do was be off for 10 minutes leaving the boys to have to defend like that but it goes to show how great our defence is (that Argentina didn’t score).

"As an openside you have to live on the edge but also use your head because you don't want to give stupid penalties away," he said.

"It's an occupational hazard for any back row forward; you are in rucks, you are on the defensive line, you are always playing on the edge."