Michael Cheika urges England to replace Stuart Lancaster with home-grown talent

Australia coach Michael Cheika ruled himself out of contention for the vacant England position overnight.

Cheika has turned the Wallabies around in less than a year, guiding them to the World Cup final, beating England, Wales, Scotland and Argentina on the way.

The odds fell on Monday on Jones succeeding Lancaster, despite the former Australia and Japan coach previously saying “I am wholly committed to the Stormers”, while Cheika’s stance was even more wholehearted than his compatriot’s.

“No one from England has contacted me and they know that they can’t contact me because I’m committed to Australia and that’s where I want to be coaching”, he said.

Graham Henry, New Zealand’s World Cup-winning coach on home soil four years ago, is another to insist he has no interest in the England role, with compatriot Wayne Smith – who helped the All Blacks to World Cup glory this year – equally emphatic that the Red Rose post is not for them.

The former Leinster and Stade Francais coach says he’s enjoying coaching Australia.

Lancaster’s reign ended with immediate effect when he stepped down from the role after a miserable World Cup.

Cheika, whose current contract with the Australia Rugby Union expires in 2017, made it clear he was determined to stay with the Wallabies for as long as possible.

There are plenty more out there who would snatch up the chance to coach the Red Rose in an instant, however for a few of the head coaches of the more successful nations the England job may look like a poisoned chalice at this point.

His success had led him to be touted as a potential candidate to take over from Stuart Lancaster, who stepped down as England’s head coach last week.

“I just think there are good coaches coaching in the Premiership”, he said.

England’s RFU have suggested they want someone of proven global experience, although they have had a tough time attracting interest. “It is a sad day for coaching when someone who has put a lot of effort in and really transformed English rugby, especially culturally, and has got everyone behind it, has lost his job”, said Townsend. I’ve just let it go where it’s taken me, whether it’s Australia in my club team or Ireland or France or back in Australia now.