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Cheika and Larkham aren't in the country so slip out a media release to avoid answering questions
Larkham dumped as Wallabies assistant coach
Georgina Robinson
By Georgina Robinson
4 February 2019 — 2:17pm
Stephen Larkham has been dumped as Wallabies assistant coach and appointed national high performance coach adviser.
Larkham, who flew to Laos on Sunday with a rugby development charity, said he and Wallabies coach Michael Cheika could not agree on the attacking strategy for the team and "overall game philosophy".
Disappointed: Stephen Larkham.
Disappointed: Stephen Larkham.CREDIT:KARLEEN MINNEY
"Ultimately Michael is responsible for the performance of the team. 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," he said in a statement.
"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 Herald revealed in December that Cheika proposed the change at a board meeting after the team's return from the spring tour in November.
It is a sad end to a coaching partnership that promised much but delivered little. Larkham was hand-picked by Cheika to help him rebuild the Wallabies in 2015. As recently as a year ago Cheika anointed Larkham his successor post-2019.
Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle said: "We are very pleased that Stephen has agreed to take on this role. He was one of our greatest ever Wallabies and has developed a strong depth of experience during his coaching roles with the Brumbies and Qantas Wallabies.
"It was very important from Rugby Australia’s perspective to retain Stephen’s services and to ensure his experience is used to grow and develop coaches and players in our next generation.
"We will also look to support Stephen in his transition into another head coach role."
Strength and conditioning coach Haydn Masters, a longtime associate of Cheika's having led the Waratahs' athletic performance program in the lead up to their 2014 title win, also resigned from the Wallabies set-up.
Former Brumbies strength and conditioning guru Dean Benton has been touted as a possible replacement.