Hagibis alters chances

Typhoon brings RWC chaos

JAPAN are likely to qualify for their first quarterfinals appearance and Scotland will cruelly miss out on the playoffs as Typhoon Hagibis causes chaos to the Rugby World Cup.

Tournament organisers were to explain their contingency plans yesterday but British media were reporting that two key matches in Tokyo this weekend — England vs France and Scotland vs Japan — will be cancelled.

That leaves the teams sharing the points and major frustration for Scotland who won’t have a chance to beat Japan and claim a quarter-final berth.

Ireland, who are due to play Samoa in their final pool match, would likely be the other Pool A team to go through.

However, The Telegraph has reported that World Rugby will likely cancel the Ireland vs Samoa match as well to ensure competition “integrity”.

Retaining the status quo on the points table with points shared around would see Japan top Pool A, meaning a quarterfinal against the Springboks, while Ireland would finish second and play the All Blacks.

England and France have both qualified for the playoffs so the ramifications aren’t so extreme, though they were playing for the top spot in Pool C.

The Telegraph reports that England and France revealed they were making plans to move the game 1000km south to Oita on Kyushu island. But the fact

that the match would have been played behind closed doors so as to discourage fans from travelling did not meet with universal approval from all stakeholders, including broadcasters.

A cancellation will cause an uproar in Scotland, predicted The Telegraph.

“Scotland would feel mightily aggrieved that they did not have the chance to rescue their campaign after an opening-weekend loss to Ireland by defeating the high-flying Brave Blossoms. Scotland would be incensed that their campaign had seemingly been brought to a premature conclusion,” the British paper’s report said.

They reported that there were still some doubts around New Zealand’s match against Italy in Toyota which is 241km to the south of Tokyo. A cancellation of the All Blacks’ match and sharing points with Italy would see the New Zealand go ahead of South Africa and finish top of their pool.