Michael Cheika sympathised with Stuart Lancaster after Australia won at Twickenham to end England's Rugby World Cup hopes.
A 33-13 win secured a quarter-final spot for Cheika's Wallabies, who now play Wales for top spot in Pool A.
England are out - the first host nation not to reach the knockout stages - and Lancaster admitted after the game his position is now in jeopardy.
That brought no joy to his opposite number, who said: "Our goal is not to put Stuart Lancaster in a difficult position, our goal is to play well and win games so we can try to get through a very difficult pool.
"That's something I'm not involved with and I don't wish that type of difficulty on anyone because I've been there, I've been through tough times. And it's hard, you feel like you want to do more.
"I don't know him very well but he seems like a very genuine guy and he's very proud of what he does. I'm sure he'll bounce back.
"I know it's tough but our intent is certainly not to do that, it was purely to get four points to try to get through the pool."