The fallout from Australia's exit from the Rugby World Cup has continued, with rugby pundits in Europe slating departing coach Michael Cheika for his one-dimensional game plan.
After five years in the job, Cheika confirmed on Sunday that he would not seek to renew his contract when it expires at the end of the year.
Australia crashed out of the Rugby World Cup at the quarterfinal stage with a 40-16 loss to England in Oita.
According to match stats, the Wallabies had 15 kicks from hand compared to England's 20, but they ran the ball 153 times to England's 71 and passed 165 times to England's 90.
England had to make more than twice as many tackles — 193 to Australia's 86.
Cheika's men had 64 per cent of possession and 62 per cent of the territory, but the English managed to absorb the pressure and score four tries to Australia's sole effort from Marika Koroibete.
The Australian coach dismissed questions about his strategy after the match, stating: "That's the way we play footy.
"I'm not going to go to a kick-and-defend game. Call me naive, but that's something we're not going to do."
Former Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper made waves with his stinging social media reaction to Cheika's exit, tweeting: "If he actually cared about Aus rugby he would have done it a while ago."
But more specific criticism came from overseas.
Discussing Cheika's tactical approach on pay-TV channel BT Sport following confirmation of the coach's resignation, former England Test player Ugo Monye did not hold back.
"I felt Saturday [against England] and their tactics was one of the most selfish tactical game plans I've seen in a long time because it wasn't about the players," Monye said.
"Everyone knows a blueprint of how you can challenge England.
"In terms of what Cheika put up against [coach] Eddie Jones [and England] — he let his players down.
"They've got brilliant players. When they got into England's half, with the likes of Will Genia, [Samu] Kerevi, [Marika] Koroibete — they looked unbelievable.
"But he totally ignored all of that with sheer stubbornness, and he's been pretty outspoken [in] this World Cup.
"I didn't like the tactics, it didn't work out and I personally feel he let his team down because it didn't give them the best opportunity of being able to win."
Ben Ryan, the former coach of Fiji's Olympic gold medal-winning rugby sevens team — and of England's sevens side — agreed with Monye's assessment.
"He hid behind saying 'we're (playing) attacking rugby'," Ryan said.
"It's not attacking rugby if you can't get out of your own 22. It was headless rugby. I thought he just let down his players."
