Andy Robinson quit as England rugby coach Wednesday, less then 10 months before the team begins defence of the World Cup.

The Rugby Football Union announced that Robinson was ``standing down'' and that it would be looking for a replacement head coach.

Saturday's 25-14 loss to South Africa at Twickenham was England's eighth in nine matches. It was also the 13th in 22 matches under Robinson, who took over after World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward quit in 2004.

``On behalf of the Rugby Football Union, I am announcing that, further to recent England results and performances, Andy Robinson is standing down from the position of head coach with immediate effect,'' said RFU elite director of rugby Rob Andrew.

Robinson said he was forced to stand down due to a lack of support at RFU level.

``I was confident that I would coach the England team through to a successful World Cup in 2007, not withstanding the setbacks that we have had through the autumn,'' Robinson said in a statement released by the RFU. ``It is my understanding that I had, and still have, the support of the England players and the England management team.

``However, in the last 48 hours, I have been advised by senior colleagues that those who have governance over me, the RFU management board, do not, and will not, continue to support me as England head coach.''

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