Wales caretaker coach Nigel Davies admits he is not expecting to be retained by the Welsh Rugby Union after the one-off clash with South Africa on November 24.
With WRU group chief executive Roger Lewis and chairman David Pickering flying to New Zealand to start their recruitment drive for a long-term successor to Gareth Jenkins – who’s tenure ended after the World Cup defeat to Fiji – Davies is under no illusions about his future.
"I’m realistic that after the seven weeks is up it will be time for me to move on. That’s how I see it," said Davies, who was put in charge of a caretaker coaching team of Robin McBryde, Rowland Phillips and Neil Jenkins.
"That’s the reality of the situation. I have to consider my future in seven weeks’ time but before then we have a massive job to do, not only with the team but preparing information for the new coach to come in.
"Our emotions have to be put to one side in order for us to give our best service for Wales.
"I’m contracted for the next seven weeks. I have nothing to fear. I have nothing to hide."
Davies admitted it was very hard to take over from Jenkins, whom he had worked with as a coach and player for more than a decade.
"It was very difficult to take on the caretaker role because of my relationship with Gareth, who I have a huge amount of respect for. Welsh rugby has lost a great servant," Davies insisted.
"Gareth was quite clear he was not going to resign from his post. He was quite clear that he hadn’t done anything wrong and he felt there was a job to do after the World Cup.
"Obviously as things transpired Gareth didn’t have that decision to make and the WRU honoured my contract.
"Gareth is very supportive and understands the situation. It’s not easy, but it’s not about me it’s about doing the best for Wales over the next seven weeks."
"The shame in the past regimes is that when the coach has gone a lot of the information and knowledge has gone with him.
"We have a succession plan and in that succession plan we identified who the current team is, who are the second and third players in that position and then we have also identified some of the younger players."
