With a press release totalling just 595 words, Stuart Lancaster's time with England came to an end. The attention now shifts to the future and just who will step into his shoes as England's head coach.
"Looking forward, we will leave no stone unturned to ensure England achieves sustained success in the future," was RFU CEO Ian Ritchie's message to the supporters who have seen just one Six Nations title since 2003.
The question is whether they now buck the trend of opting for an English coach or look abroad. Ireland's Joe Schmidt has already ruled himself out of the job but that still leaves a lengthy list of contenders and we run the rule over who may be in the frame to succeed Lancaster.
Eddie Jones
He has barely had time to settle in Cape Town and will face the South African press on Thursday for the first time as coach of the Stormers, the franchise he agreed to join when his Japan contract finished after the Rugby World Cup, but he could be keen if England came knocking. The RFU would have to buy him out of his Super Rugby deal but he would bring an international pedigree few can match. He took Australia to the 2003 World Cup final, was part of the South Africa coaching team that won it in 2007 and then guided Japan to three wins in the last tournament. He could bring former England captain Steve Borthwick with him, the ex-Japan forwards coach who is now at Bristol.
Jake White
The South African is always linked with any international jobs on the market and is currently at Montpellier. He won the World Cup with South Africa in 2007 and transformed the Brumbies during his time in Canberra.
Michael Cheika
Recent reports suggested the RFU had contacted Cheika over the head coach position, but even though they then kiboshed such suggestions he would be in the frame. He experienced domestic success with Leinster and the Waratahs and over the last year turned the Wallabies from a rabble into World Cup finalists. He is under contract until 2017 with the ARU.
Rob Baxter
The Exeter Chiefs coach has brought through the likes of Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Nowell and is well respected within England circles, spending time in the set-up, and has turned the Devon outfit into title contenders.
Warren Gatland
The Wales coach is one of the finest coaches in the world but is tied in with the WRU until 2019. It was recently reported it would cost the RFU in the region of £1.2m to buy the New Zealander out of his deal but if they want someone with proven international pedigree and success, then Gatland fits the bill.
Jim Mallinder
He won two caps for England and coached Northampton to the Aviva Premiership title in 2014. He recently said he would be keen to take charge of England one day but emphasised he is focused on his duties at the Saints.
Conor O'Shea
The ex-Ireland fullback and current Harlequins coach has been mentioned as someone in the running to replace Lancaster and has previously worked at the RFU. He was part of the panel that approved the Lancaster appointment and has won the Premiership at Harlequins.
Wayne Smith
All the noise from New Zealand suggests Smith is keen to step away from international coaching for a year and travel Europe as a tourist rather than a professional. But he is worth his weight in gold. He acted as defence coach for the All Blacks in the recent World Cup and nearly joined the RFU in 2012 as part of Lancaster's backroom staff. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level and the mechanics of achieving that success. He also knows the English domestic game well having previously coached Northampton.
Mike Ford
Ford is tied in with Bath until 2019 but knows the English game inside out having been part of the England coaching team in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. At Bath he took them to the Premiership final last year and the style of rugby he has brought would win plenty of fans with England.
Nick Mallett
It was a shootout between Lancaster and Mallett for the job back in 2012 and they backed the Cumbrian. Reports prior to England's meaningless game against Uruguay suggested the RFU had contacted Mallett over the vacancy but both parties immediately shot that down. He seems content in his role as a television pundit in South Africa and it would take a big push to tempt the former Italy and South Africa coach back into a hot seat.
Dave Rennie
The Chiefs coach is regarded as one of the finest brains in world rugby and led them to the title in 2012 and 2013, alongside Smith. He could yet be part of an England coaching team with someone else above him but he has enough of a standing to arrow for the job in its own right.