Michael Cheika is back in Britain to coach the Barbarians © Getty Images

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LONDON -- Australia head coach Michael Cheika believes Stuart Lancaster's departure from England was part of the "cut-throat" nature of international rugby, but is adamant whoever succeeds the Cumbrian can turn the nation into a world force again.

Lancaster resigned as England head coach last week following a dismal Rugby World Cup which saw the hosts eliminated at the pool stage -- a first in the tournament's history.

And, while Australia effectively knocked England out of the competition en route to the final, Cheika admitted he does hold some sympathy for Lancaster.

"I know that it can be cut-throat," Cheika said. "As the head coach, you've got to take a view that it doesn't matter if you're in the job at the end of the day. Your role is not just to do well now, but to plant the seeds that someone else is going to benefit from further on down the track.

"Even if you're planning for the future and it hasn't gone well in the short term, you've got to take responsibility for that as well. That's why I always say you're next game is the most important.

"It's like life -- sometimes it goes well and sometimes it's tough. You've just got to ride that. That's why I never consider it [coaching] like a career or a job -- it's a passion. You've got to enjoy it and ride the wave up and down. If you do your absolute best and it doesn't go your way, you can't be disappointed. If you don't do your best, it can feel like you've let yourself down."

The Rugby Football Union has already begun the search for Lancaster's replacement, with chief executive Ian Ritchie looking for a coach with "proven international experience."

Earlier this month, English rugby's governing body was forced to deny it had made an approach for Cheika, whose stock rose considerably after he led Australia to the World Cup final after barely a year at the helm.

The 48-year-old became the latest to rule himself out of contention for the vacancy on Monday but, referring to Australia's 26-17 defeat at Twickenham at the end of last year's autumn internationals, Cheika said success is very much on England's radar.

"It's about getting the right person who fits that team and those people. That can be at any given time -- that's why they're paid the big bucks to make those decisions," Cheika added.

"When we left Twickenham about 12 months ago with our tail between our legs, no one was saying [England] weren't a force then. Sometimes it's fine margins. It doesn't take a lot to turn things from silver into gold. You just need to be in the right place at the right time for things to turn out right."

Michael Cheika© Dan Mullan/Getty Images

Cheika is contracted to Australia until 2017 but, on the back of the Wallabies' impressive showing in England, there has been speculation the Australian Rugby Union will seek to extend his deal until after the 2019 World Cup.

While admitting there had not been any formal discussions yet, Cheika added: "If they want me to [extend my contract], for sure. But I'm not stressed about it because if I'm doing a good job every day, they'll want me to stay."

Two weeks have passed since Australia's World Cup final defeat to New Zealand and Cheika admitted the positive reaction back home had left him feeling somewhat "confused".

Coach Michael Cheika talks to his Barbarians team© Coach Michael Cheika talks to his Barbarians team

He said: "So many people were congratulating us and saying they were really proud of the team -- there was a real national fervour behind the team, even from non-rugby fans. There was a lot of that, which was hard for us as we were still carrying the scars of losing the final.

"I was humbled by the reaction. We're not used to it, with rugby union not being the most popular sport there. You're not used to people saying congratulations and you feel a bit guilty taking it because you didn't win -- so it's a bit paradoxical. But I really enjoyed the fact that people back home enjoyed it, which was really rewarding for us."

Now Cheika is back in England and focusing on a new -- if temporary -- project. Over the next seven days, he will take charge of the Barbarians, first against Gloucester on Tuesday before a tantalising Twickenham tie against World Cup semifinalists Argentina on Saturday.

"It's still such a great concept," Cheika said of the Barbarians. "The opportunity to be involved with guys who would normally be your enemies on any other day, to get the chance to get to know them and talk rugby with them, socialise with them -- it's such a different experience."