OITA (Japan): 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 on Saturday.
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 Saturday’s emphatic defeat in Oita, which equalled England’s record 24-point margin of victory over Australia, Cheika said: “I will be honest, it is a cruel, cruel world nowadays when you are asking that question two minutes after we’ve been knocked out of the World Cup.
“And if you find it inside you, to find a little bit of compassion for people who are hurting, to just ask the more relevant questions, because I will tell you, I came here with only one thought in my mind about winning here and that thought has just disappeared now.
“I know that is what the papers demand but perhaps whatever your news outlet is should think about people’s feelings just for a minute.”
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. – AFP
