Cheika: new deal is my last

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN may well feel he has more to offer Ireland after eight years with the international set-up but Michael Cheika clearly believes coaches have a much shorter shelf-life with any one team.

The Australian will have been with the Irish province for five years by the time his new two-year deal comes to an end in 2010 and he was adamant yesterday that is “definitely going to be the extent of my tenure”.

“I’m very happy to stay on,” he explained. “It’s always been in my mind as to when too long is too long. You have to be aware of timing in everything, if I can still add to the team.