OITA, Oct 19 — Dejected Australia coach Michael Cheika urged the media to show “compassion” when asked about his future after England knocked the Wallabies out of the World Cup with a 40-16 quarter-final win today.
Cheika’s contract expires at the end of the year and he has previously indicated he would not be reapplying for his job if they failed to win the World Cup, having overseen Australia’s defeat in the 2015 final by New Zealand.
But asked about his position following today’s emphatic defeat in Oita, which equalled England’s record 24-point margin of victory over Australia, Cheika said: “If I’m being honest, it’s a cruel world when you are being asked those questions two minutes after being knocked out of a World Cup.
“If you could find some compassion... Perhaps whatever your news outlet is, just think about people’s feelings, just chill.”
Told his position was of great interest to the Australian public, Cheika replied: “When the time comes, I’ll tell them. They don’t need to know today.”
This result meant the Wallaby boss has presided over seven straight losses to England since his former team-mate at Sydney club Randwick, Eddie Jones, took charge of the Red Rose brigade after the 2015 World Cup.
“Exit is an exit, it doesn’t matter if it’s a final or quarter-final,” said Cheika.
“The opponent is irrelevant. For all the carry-on (exchanges between Cheika and Jones), we are just going out to compete... it’s painful either way.”
“I feel that weight that I should have delivered for them (Australia fans).”
England outscored Australia four tries to one, with wing Jonny May marking his 50th cap with a first-half double in three minutes.
Prop Kyle Sinckler crossed for the first time in Test rugby before Anthony Watson went over four minutes from the finish.
England captain Owen Farrell was faultless from the kicking tee, landing eight out of eight shots for a match haul of 20 points.
Yet Australia, thanks to a converted try from wing Marika Koroibete were only a point behind at 17-16 early in the second half.
The Wallabies gave away two intercept tries but Cheika insisted that playing a tighter game was “not the Australian way”.
“I’m not going to go to a kick-and-defend game. Call me naive but that’s not the way we want to play.”
Meanwhile Jones, Australia’s coach when they lost the 2003 World Cup final to England, was asked if he felt any sympathy for Cheika.
“It’s tough when you lose a game, particularly at this level,” he said.
“But not a lot of sympathy now because I’m enjoying the win and I think I’m allowed to enjoy the win.” — AFP
