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Stephen Larkham has been axed as Wallabies assistant coach by Michael Cheika, less than eight months out from the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
- Stephen Larkham and Michael Cheika could not agree on strategy and game philosophy
- Larkham had been a Wallabies assistant coach since 2015
- He will move into the role of national high performance coach adviser
Larkham, who won a World Cup with the Wallabies in 1999, said he and coach Cheika could not agree on key points of "attacking strategy and overall game philosophy".
The axing follows the Wallabies' dismal 2018 season in which they slipped to a record-low seventh in the world rankings.
Rugby Australia (RA) said the decision was made by Cheika, and that Larkham would shift to a new role as national high-performance coach adviser immediately.
Larkham, who won 102 Test caps as a player, was the Wallabies' attack coach since early 2015, helping steer the team to a surprise Rugby World Cup final later that year after less than 12 months under Cheika.
He said he and Cheika could no longer see eye to eye.
"Ultimately, Michael is responsible for the performance of the team," Larkham said in a statement issue by RA.
"We have differences in attacking strategy and overall game philosophy.
"We couldn't agree on these key points and it is in the best interest of the team that they receive clear and consistent messages from their coaches.
"I am obviously disappointed with this outcome as I had chosen to pursue the experience of taking the Wallabies through to the World Cup, however I am pleased to be able to continue coaching and contributing to Australian rugby in this new role."
The Wallabies struggled through their worst season in 60 years in 2018, with Cheika at the helm, slumping to a 4-9 win-loss record.
The results sparked a review by RA, who subsequently signed Scott Johnson in the new position of director of rugby.
Johnson will return from a similar role for Scotland as Cheika's direct boss, as they attempt to breathe new life into the Wallabies' World Cup campaign.
Larkham's new position will focus on coach mentoring, coaching and skills development across the Australian sevens program, Junior Wallabies, state under-20s academies and Wallaroos.
Continuing the clean-out, head of athletic preparation Haydn Masters has resigned from his post with the Wallabies after four seasons.
AAP
Topics: rugby-union-world-cup, rugby-union, sport, canberra-2600