World champions South Africa gave departing coach Jake White a winning farewell by crushing Wales 34-12 at the Millennium Stadium.

The Springboks scored five tries - centre Jaque Fourie (2), flanker Juan Smith, wing JP Pietersen and number eight Ryan Kankowski touched down - to keep Wales at a safe distance.

Wales, under the guidance of caretaker coach Nigel Davies prior to New Zealander Warren Gatland's arrival next week, produced some impressive passages of play.

But they were restricted to tries in each half by flanker Colin Charvis - whose 22nd Test score set a new world record for a forward - and impressive full-back newcomer Morgan Stoddart.

Davies believes he will be handing Gatland a Wales team that is full of potential despite the defeat.

He said: "What we have seen this afternoon is passion, endeavour and effort from Wales. I was hugely proud of how the boys went about their business.

"This is a good team going forward and some of the performances like Morgan Stoddart, who put his hand up and showed what he could do, and Robin Sowden-Taylor, Gavin Henson, Gethin Jenkins and Jonathan Thomas.

"We need to go forward as a nation. If you look at the game, we were in it but defensively we have to step up a couple of notches.

"This is the end of an era and the start of another and this is the basis of a good team going forward."

South Africa skipper John Smit dedicated the win to their World Cup-winning coach White, who bows out after four years in charge.

The Springbok hooker said: "The biggest thing to gain out of this game was to send off Jake White after what he has given us. It's never been about one person but I think tonight was.

"It was about the group of players saying goodbye in the best possible way."

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