Michael Cheika says he knew in the immediate aftermath of Australia’s quarter-final defeat to England that he would quit as Wallabies coach.

Cheika has said previously that he would quit unless the Wallabies won the World Cup and though he objected to questions about his future immediately post-match, he said that was ultimately the reason he was stepping down.

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‘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,’ he said.

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

He added that he had ‘no relationship’ with Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle and ‘not much’ with chairman Cameron Clyne.

The 52-year-old Cheika was in charge of the Wallabies for five years, but despite taking them all the way to the 2015 World Cup final, his tenure had been marred by controversy and sub-standard performances.

Photo: www.rugby.com.au