Scots to weather KO storm
SCOTLAND will fly into the eye of the Yokohama storm today with their World Cup hopes blowing in the wind.
And former star Peter Wright insisted if England or New Zealand were facing the same scenario
then moves would be made to keep them in the competition.
He believes the integrity of rugby’s biggest tournament could be damaged for all time if Hurricane Haggis sees the Scots exit the competition without kicking a ball against hosts Japan.
Wright said: “Every competition has to protect its own integrity and it’s being devalued.
“It’s a total farce. You can guarantee had it been England or New Zealand who were maybe not going to qualify for the knockout stage because a game had to be cancelled World Rugby would find a way to get their games played.”
Gregor Townsend’s team are scheduled to travel to the city today even though they still have no firm guarantees the win-or-bust clash at the International Stadium will go ahead as Super Typhoon Hagibis prepares to wreak havoc.
World Rugby say the game remains under review and a decision will be taken just hours before the scheduled 7.45pm Japan time (11.45am BST) kick-off.
If the match is cancelled the Scots would be controversially blown out of the competition but the SRU insist it must be played to protect the sporting integrity of the World Cup and playing it behind closed doors is an option.
While the Scots are readying themselves to travel to Yokohama, England are packing up and leaving town after their showdown with France tomorrow at the same venue was called off after fears were raised.
World Rugby announced yesterday they had also taken the “difficult decision” to cancel New Zealand’s meeting with Italy on safety grounds.
But there was no clarity for the Scotland squad who need to beat the Brave Blossoms to avoid being knocked out of the competition - or the thousands of supporters flying in to see the clash.
World Cup rules state if a pool match can’t be played on its original date then it’s marked down as a 0-0 draw, with both earning two points.
In that were to be the case Scotland would be dumped out of the tournament.
Townsend’s team sit on 10 points from three games, four behind the Japanese, and need the win on Sunday to clinch their place in the last eight.
If Scotland’s clash is off then the likely quarter-final line-up would see England against Australia, New Zealand v Ireland, Wales taking on France and hosts Japan facing South Africa.