Wallabies Attack Stephen Larkham. {Source: Google}

Stephen Larkham has been axed as Wallabies assistant coach by Michael Cheika, less than eight months out from the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

ABC News reports, 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 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.