Clive Rowlands was Wales’ youngest coach at the age of 30 when his reign got off to a losing start against Argentina on a non-capped tour in 1968, but many of his squad went on to become legends of the game during what history records as Welsh rugby’s second Golden Era.

The likes of JPR Williams, Phil Bennett, John Dawes and Dai Morris emerged from the young ranks of that tour during which they lost 9-5 against Argentina and drew the rematch 9-9.

Ruddock said, “I was talking to Clive Rowlands, who pointed out that his reign as Wales coach started with a defeat in Argentina and that things got a lot better after that.

“I still regard Wales’ win over Romania last year as my first game in charge, despite the fact that Steve Hansen was still in overall charge at that point. I was given the reigns for that midweek game in Wrexham.

“But Clive has been there as a player and coach and it was very nice to get such a message of support from him following our defeat last weekend. He is a great character of the game and has a great rugby brain. His comments have given me a bit of heart and we are confident we can do well in the rematch.”

However, Ruddock knows that to go one better than Rowlands and steal a win on Argentine soil will require a huge improvement in key areas of the game.

He said, “There is a steely determination to make up for the poor areas of our game last weekend. We kicked to their pack, which I don’t think was a great decision at the time because that is where their strength is. We should have been kicking the ball elsewhere.

“Perhaps we were too confident going into the first Test following a good win over the Barbarians prior to coming out here and the quality of training we have done together since. We feel we are in with a very good shout in the second Test.”

Ruddock has also played down the significance of Argentina’s side including a large contingent of home-based players whose careers are overseen by a governing body that strictly forbids payment for playing at club and provincial level within the country’s borders.

“The fact that Argentina had eight amateur players in their side last weekend is not playing on my mind,” said Ruddock. “They are part of a very good regional system amid a huge rugby population. I am aware that some of our supporters took the train from BA to Tucuman for the game and it took them 21 hours to get there – that is how big this country is.

“They play provincial rugby to a very high standard and whether or not there are amateurs or professionals is irrelevant. They play at a very high standard - that is more to the point.”