Typhoon threat to ‘Le Crunch’

ENGLAND’S final group match against France is in danger of being cancelled, as Typhoon Hagibis has changed course and is due to hit the Tokyo and Yokohama area this weekend. Eddie Jones’s side are due to play at Yokohama Stadium on Saturday, with a 5pm kick-off, local time. But the 19th typhoon of the storm season, which had been heading towards the south west, is expected to subject the capital and its surrounds to winds of up to 160mph. When England arrived in Japan on September 9, their transfer into the centre of Tokyo was delayed for hours as a result of the after-effects of Typhoon Faxai, which caused considerable damage and disruption. But Hagibis is predicted to wreak far more havoc and it could have a major impact on the final round of pool matches. While contingency plans have not been officially confirmed, tournament organisers may have to switch ‘Le Crunch’ to another venue, if it has to be postponed until Sunday, as Japan take on Scotland at Yokohama Stadium that evening. In the event of a cancellation, the match would be declared a no-score draw, leaving Jones (below) and his squad top of Pool C — but they could be pitched into a quarter-final under-cooked. World Rugby issued an update last night which read: ‘It remains too early to fully predict the movement and impact of the storm, however the latest modelling by our weather information experts indicates that it is now tracking north and east and will bring strong winds and heavy rain to Tokyo and surrounding areas. ‘Public and team safety is our No 1 priority. While we have robust contingency plans in place for pool matches, such plans, if required, will only be actioned if the safety of teams, fans, and workforce can be guaranteed.’