As the Super Rugby Pacific playoff race continues, stragglers begin to take stock

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - While jostling for final positions in Super Rugby Pacific continues in the weekend's penultimate regular-season round, ramifications have already begun for teams that have failed to make the playoffs.

The New South Wales Waratahs, who are in last place on the championship standings with only two wins from 12 matches, have sacked head coach Darren Coleman with a year to run on his three-year contract.

And Rob Penney, the head coach of the Crusaders who also have a 2-10 record and whose playoff hopes are likely to end Saturday in a match against the first-place Blues, has been forced to apologize after using a obscenity to describe a journalist who questioned his record.

Penney's remark was made as a tense news conference was breaking up and while the television microphone he was wearing was still live. The chief executive of the Crusaders, Colin Mainsbridge, initially defended Penney but later relayed an apology from Penney to the reporter.

Mainsbridge said during the news conference "a line of questioning was undertaken from a reporter present concerning Rob Penney's future as Crusaders head coach.

"After the media conference had concluded, a private comment to a colleague was inadvertently recorded on third-party microphones and Rob has since apologized to me for what was said,” Mainsbridge added. "On behalf of the Crusaders organization, I apologize for the comments he made regarding the reporter. I spoke to the reporter today and he has accepted our apology."

The Waratahs organization said a process has begun to appoint Coleman's successor. Coleman said he had no hard feelings about his dismissal and would be willing to return to the Waratahs in future.

"There's definitely no bad blood from my end," Coleman said. "I'm not slinging any rocks on the way out.

"I feel this year could have turned out a lot different with a bit of luck at crucial times around our front-row injuries and that run of four games early in the season. I feel some success in those or a result or two may have seen a different season unfold."

The Fijian Drua also have announced a new head coach for next season but in much different circumstances. Former Chiefs flyhalf and international referee Glen Jackson will take over from Mick Byrne who has been named head coach of the Fiji national team.

Jackson, who refereed 32 test matches, has been an assistant coach under Byrne.

"I have learned a lot and I am very passionate about the Fijian culture," Jackson said. "My time at the Flying Fijians and Drua has shown me how powerful the Fijian culture, community and passion in molding good players and good people."

The top four teams have been decided heading into the playoffs, with an unbridgeable 11-point gap back to fifth place. But final seedings still will be decided over the next two weekends.

Friday's match between the fourth-place Chiefs and second-place Hurricanes is likely to have the most immediate impact on seedings. The Chiefs will play the top-ranked Blues next weekend.

The Wellington-based Hurricanes will be without captain Brad Shields who suffered a calf muscle strain in training this week.

The third-place ACT Brumbies will play the sixth-place Melbourne Rebels, the fifth-place Queensland Reds will take on the ninth-place Western Force and the eighth-place Drua will travel to Dunedin to meet the Highlanders.

The Drua are in eighth place, two points ahead of the Force and have yet to win away from home this season.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby