Davies takes over on a temporary basis from Gareth Jenkins, who was sacked on Sunday morning after Wales crashed out of the World Cup.

The former Wales centre will head a four-man coaching team which includes defence specialist Rowland Phillips, set-piece coach Robin McBryde and kicking expert Neil Jenkins, all of whom served under Jenkins.

The Welsh Rugby Union have launched a worldwide search for a permanent replacement for Jenkins and aim to have him in place for the 2008 RBS 6 Nations.

As well as preparing Wales for the Springboks game, the four-man team will start laying the foundations for the new head coach by undertaking a full review of the World Cup.

But any decision on their future within the Wales management set-up will be down to the new head coach.

Davies said: I would have wanted to go into this game working as assistant to Gareth Jenkins but I fully understand why, in the world of professional sport, this cannot happen.

I am a close friend of Gareths and have worked with him both as a player and coach for some 20 years.

I am under contract and will continue with my duties as diligently and professionally as I am able to. I am pleased we are being kept in place for this game because there is a lot of urgent work we must get on with which will be of great help to a new head coach.

There is a report to be written on the Rugby World Cup, the elite player succession plan must be updated and, as well as preparation and planning for South Africa, a similar process has to start for the next RBS 6 Nations. There are also player appraisals and debriefs of games to work on.

Nothing is left to chance in the professional sporting arena and we know it is vital we give any new coach a portfolio of information. What happens with this coaching team after that will be up to him.

In the meantime, Davies will run the ship and is determined to put a smile back on the face of Welsh rugby.

The Springboks could well be turning up at the Millennium Stadium as world champions but Davies said: As a group we see this South Africa match as an opportunity to put things right and give the fans something to cheer and shout about.

There is a tremendous amount of work to be done and as four proud Welshmen we are determined to ensure all the coaches and players pull together to go forward with confidence and style.

We are angry and hurting right now because we are bitterly disappointed that Wales did not get to the quarter finals of the World Cup.

We want to channel those feelings into our preparations for this match.