WALES boss Warren Gatland hopes that his inexperienced players can make his regulars feel the heat with stronger displays in Argentina by learning from their nervy win against South Africa.

It took a freakish late try to sneak the spoils 22-20 in Washington with replacement hooker Ryan Elias prospering from a charge down by scrum-half Tomos Williams that bounced off a Springbok.

Wales looked set to lose a scrappy game after throwing away a 14-3 half-time lead that had been earned by scores from Dragons full-back and impressive Cardiff Blues number 9 Williams.

Gatland praised his players for rescuing the win to get the tour off to a "great start" but knows that his charges must be much better in the back-to-back clashes with the Pumas.

The head coach said: The New Zealander said: "Who would want to be a coach? The end was dramatic and maybe our game management could have been better, but I thought we played well in the first half.

"A lot of learning took place and guys will be better for that. We got a huge amount out of it."

Gatland's XV featured just two survivors from the Six Nations win against France – Dragons lock Cory Hill and Ospreys-bound George North, who moved back to his more familiar wing from centre when Steff Evans limped off with a knee injury in the first half.

The management have rested most of their big names but hope that the next fortnight can help make them sweat on their places in the build-up to Japan 2019.

"We were pretty straight up with these guys and they're all well aware of what we've been trying to do in the last 18 months and that's to really develop some depth and some competition in certain positions," said Gatland.

"This is very much what the autumn was about last year and the Six Nations and the guys who went on the summer tour last year to play Tonga and Samoa.

"There are 10 or 11 players who aren't here who, if their form is good enough, they're probably going to make the World Cup squad.

"But the biggest thing that I want is for guys to be under pressure. Hopefully there's a few of those 10 or 11 players sitting at home realising that there are a couple of players that have played exceptionally well and have won.

"There will be a lot of positives for us to take from this and we've got a couple of tough games against Argentina.

"Most of them play for the Jaguares team so they'll be fairly familiar with everything and they've done well in Super Rugby so it's something for us to look forward to."

Wales play the Pumas in San Juan on Saturday before heading to Santa Fe seven days later with Gatland likely to be without Scarlets speedster Evans.

That would probably lead to North being moved to the wing with Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams in midfield.

Amos and former Dragon Tom Prydie are the other specialist back three options in the touring party while fly-halves Rhys Patchell and Gareth Anscombe have experience at full-back.