The future looked bright for Australia after the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the last four years have shown it was an aberration.
The Michael Cheika era is all but over.
After guiding the Wallabies to the final of the 2015
World Cup in England, Cheika vowed to quit if Australia did not win the tournament in Japan. There is no need for Cheika to offer his resignation. His contract will not be renewed. There has already been speculation Rugby Australia has sounded out New Zealander Dave Rennie to replace him. What started out so promisingly for Cheika and the Wallabies ended so disappointingly with the 40-16 defeat to
England in the World Cup quarter-final at Oita Stadium on Saturday.