WALES A coach Mike Ruddock believes this autumn's A internationals have helped give senior coach Graham Henry (pictured) more choices for the 2003 World Cup.

Many of the squad have already progressed into the senior line-up and Ruddock is hopeful most, if not all those remaining, can do likewise.

Ahead of this Saturday's A international against Uruguay at Cardiff's Arms Park club ground (kick-off 5.30pm), he said: "I think underpinning our selection for the last couple of games has been our determination to try and bring through some youngsters and expose them to international rugby.

"Hopefully then some or all can go forward to a panel for the Six Nations and then keep the momentum going towards the next World Cup.

"We need to give more choices to Graham Henry at the next World Cup and in the couple of years before then. If we do that then we'll be doing our job.

"The injuries which have robbed us of players after each A game to the senior side have helped in that process in a way.

"In saying that, you are always looking to keep a little bit of a balance in the team so the younger players coming in can learn and gain confidence from some of the senior hands. "Having seen a lot of players come through in Ireland when I was involved with the A team there, players such as Peter Stringer, Shane Horgan, John Hayes, Garry Longwell, I don't see why the Welsh guys can't come through and follow suit."

Asked if he was therefore disappointed Henry ignored the claims of Pontypridd's Gareth Wyatt and went outside the A squad to select Llanelli's Wayne Proctor against Australia on Sunday, Ruddock was diplomatic.

"In an ideal world you hope players progress from the A side to the senior squad, but there are times when you select players for certain games to do a certain job. "I assume with Wayne's selection, he's an experienced international, he has been chosen to do a job against Australia.

"You respect the fact that senior management have more time to watch players than A team coaches who are still involved with clubs week in, week out."

Asked if, in view of Uruguay's hammering by a virtual Newport second string squad last week, Wales would learn anything from Saturday's clash, he said: "You always learn from every game.

"You learn particularly how individuals fit into a team style, team pattern, team ethos and what their individual skills are like.

"Uruguay started badly against Newport, but I'm expecting them to approach Saturday as an out and out Test match and I'll be surprised if they don't improve significantly.

"They only lost by a couple of points to Argentina in the summer, though I understand they have left some of those players behind to introduce some young players.

"They have traditionally concentrated on close forward play, a lot of rolling mauls and driving mauls and attacking around the fringes, and that's how I think they'll play at the weekend.

"It's a South American format and I think if you are going to compete against the likes of Argentina, year in, year out in their own tournaments, you've got to be able to form a strong forward platform."