Ruddock is without 14 key players for the two Test series against Argentina and the clash with South Africa a week later.

There are only a handful of survivors from the class of 1999 who under New Zealander Graham Henry clinched a 2-0 series win over the Pumas, with most of the squad having recently graduated through the Under-21 structure.

Five years ago Wales were able to match the home side in the pack and Ruddock has already brought the then forwards coach Lynn Howells into the camp to give the current squad an insight into what to expect.

"We have had Lynn to show us some footage of those games and the tour in 1999 and it was great to see what Lynn and Graham Henry were working on and what we can expect in Argentina," said Ruddock.

"I don't think their goals will be any different to what we are after - the forwards to front up and for the ball to be put wide.

"We know it is a huge challenge for us. We are a young squad, but these guys are all playing in the European Cup and the Celtic League and will be used to the intimidating atmospheres that we can expect out there.

"Certainly on the tour we will find out a lot about ourselves as a coaching team and also find a lot about the players."

Ruddock added: "The aim of the tour is to win games, it has to be, every coach in every sport is in it for that.

"But over and above that we want to keep working on our defensive structure and come out of the tour with mastery of that so we can click into it during the November internationals.

"I also want to see us come out of the tour with a lot of credibility up front, I want to see us hold that Argentinian scrum and their driving maul and I want to see us retain the flair and width that we have already got.

"If we can achieve that then hopefully we can get the results."

Wales will have just over a week to prepare for the first Test in Tucuman on June 12, but they will fly out without full-back Gareth Thomas who is to undergo a week of intensive treatment on his injured ankle before joining the party.

Other injury concerns for Ruddock are lock Gareth Llewellyn (twisted ankle) and centre Tom Shanklin, who is recovering from a knee problem.

Ospreys flanker Richie Pugh has been called up as a late addition to the party.