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Michael Cheika stands down as Australia rugby coach

Michael Cheika consoles his players after the England defeat
Image: Michael Cheika consoles his players after the England defeat

Michael Cheika's five-year tenure as Australia head coach is over after he opted not to seek reappointment following the Wallabies' Rugby World Cup quarter-final exit to England.

Cheika had previously said he would step down if Australia did not improve on their run to the World Cup final in 2015, but objected to reporters asking about his future after Saturday's 40-16 defeat to England in Oita.

With the 52-year-old's contract expiring at the end of the tournament, Cheika's departure from the role is immediate.

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Cheika refused to talk about his future following their defeat to England

"I got asked the question in the press conference, you would've been there and listening, about what's going to happen going forward and at the time I wasn't keen to answer but I always knew the answer in my head, I just wanted to speak to my wife and tell a few people up there about it," Cheika said.

"I put my chips in earlier in the year I told people no win, no play.

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Image: Australia were beaten by a clinical England in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final on Saturday

"So, I'm the type of man who is always going to back what he says and I knew from the final whistle but I just wanted to give it that little bit time to cool down, talk to my people and then make it clear."

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New Zealander Dave Rennie, the former coach of the Waikato Chiefs and current Glasgow Warriors boss, has been strongly linked with the post in the Australian media.

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