‘ridiculous’ decision clash with All Blacks
“AFTER extensive evaluation, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have announced an update regarding the predicted impact of Typhoon Hagibis on this weekend’s Rugby World Cup 2019 pool matches. This includes the decision to cancel matches on safety grounds.
“Based on the latest detailed information from the tournament’s independent weather experts, Hagibis is predicted to be the biggest typhoon of the 2019 season and is highly likely to cause considerable disruption in the Tokyo, Yokohama and City of Toyota areas throughout Saturday, including likely public transport shutdown or disruption.
“As a result, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee have taken the difficult, but right decision to cancel matches in the affected areas on safety grounds. The impacted teams have been informed and are understanding. For matches that do not go ahead as scheduled, two points will be awarded to each team in line with tournament rules.”
Safety is number one priority
“IT is an exceptional, complex and rapidly evolving situation and team and public safety is the number one priority. This has been central in all decision-making in partnership with the tournament’s weather information experts, host cities, venues and teams.
“The decision to cancel matches has not been taken lightly and has been made in the best interests of public, team, tournament personnel and volunteer safety, based on expert advice and detailed weather information. While we have extensively explored all options, public and team safety was our utmost priority as well as ensuring a consistent, fair and equitable outcome for all teams.”
All fans with tickets will get refund
“ALL fans with tickets for a cancelled match will receive a full refund for the face value of their match tickets.
“Based on the advice of government Pool A
1. Japan, Scotland or Ireland
2. Japan, Scotland or Ireland Pool B
1. New Zealand
2. South Africa
Pool C
1. England
2. France
Pool D
1. Wales
2. Australia authorities and experts, World Rugby and the Japan Rugby 2019 Organising Committee are advising fans in the Tokyo, Yokohama and City of Toyota areas to stay indoors on Saturday, not to travel and to keep monitoring the official Rugby World Cup 2019 digital and social channels, including the RWC 2019 Fan Information Twitter handle @ Japan2019_ENG for regular updates.”
Organisers looked ‘exhaustively’ at moving or rearranging matches
SPEAKING to the media, World Rugby chief operating officer and tournament director Alan Gilpin said organisers looked “exhaustively” at contingency plans, which involved moving or rearranging matches, before deciding that was unfeasible on both logistical and safety grounds.
He said: “This is a complex and dynamic situation which we have been monitoring extremely closely with the assistance of our weather information experts. We are now in a position to accurately predict the likely impact of Typhoon Hagibis on Rugby World Cup fixtures this weekend.
“While making every possible effort to put in place a contingency plan that would enable all of Saturday’s matches to be played, it would be grossly irresponsible to leave teams, fans, volunteers and other tournament personnel exposed during what is predicted to be a severe typhoon.
“As a result, we have taken the decision to cancel some matches in order to ensure the safety of all involved. It is the right thing to do, and comes with the support of all stakeholders, including the teams.
“We fully appreciate that England, France, New Zealand and Italy fans will be disappointed, but we trust they will appreciate that their safety must come first. They will be entitled to a full refund on their match tickets. Our message for all fans in Japan for Rugby World Cup is to heed all official advice, stay indoors throughout Saturday and do not attempt to travel on the day.” How the Rugby World Cup quarter finals line up (Assuning Wales beat Uruguay)
1. New Zealand vs Japan, Scotland or Ireland
2. South Africa vs Japan, Scotland or Ireland
3. England vs Australia 4. Wales vs France STUART Barnes has criticised the yellow card given to Ken Owens during Wales win over Fiji as “without doubt the most embarrassing faux pas yet in 2019”.
Barnes says Owens “deserved a straight red” and criticised “stupid” World Rugby laws which meant he only saw yellow.
The Welsh hooker received his marching orders in the eighth minute after lifting Viliame Mata through the horizontal before dropping him on his back.
Referee Jerome Garces took his time analysing the offence with his TMO Ben Skeen before sending the Scarlets hooker to the bin for 10 minutes.
The fact the Fijian player landed on his back and not his head appears to have been key to Owens not getting a red card. He could yet face further action if he is cited following the match.
But Barnes said there was no way Owens could have influenced how Mata landed, responding to a challenge on Twitter by saying: “Revolved beyond 180 degrees. If that is not red then who cares for a player’s safety. You are not suggesting Owens knew he’d land on his back, are you?”
He went on to say it was “red in any sensible law book” and “Willie Mata was thrown dangerously, without care and landed by pure luck on his back and not his head. Had he landed on his head and been severely injured do you think the colour of card would remain the same?”
When suggested that there was not a lot that Owens could do, given the momentum and speed of the collision, Barnes suggested “he could have tried a tackle and not a throw. That is a good one for starters” and added: “The most reckless throw of the World Cup.”
Discussing his discussion on the pitch with his TMO Ben Skeen, Garces said: “The white player landed on his back. In my view a yellow card against red (Owens). A dangerous tackle by two red, a penalty and yellow-card.”
But there was plenty of debate afterwards about whether it was the correct decision.
Former England scrum-half and 2003 World Cup winner Matt Dawson agreed with the decision, saying: “I think the referee has got that absolutely spot on.”