England’s Rugby World Cup pool decider against France in Yokohama has reportedly been cancelled creating unwanted history for organisers and a deflating end to the tournament’s group stage.
The approach of Super Typhoon Hagibis has forced the hand of tournament bosses, the PA news agency understands, meaning a match will not be played for the first time in nine instalments of the tournament.
The tropical storm which is poised to strike Japan on Saturday afternoon has escalated this week and been described by the Japan Meteorological Agency as “violent”.
With all games cancelled due to weather problems registered as scoreless draws it means England will progress as pool C winners into the quarter-finals, where they almost certainly will face Australia. Second-placed France will probably face Wales.
There is also doubt hanging over the following day’s crucial Japan-Scotland match at the same venue, which sits directly in the typhoon’s path.
World Rugby officials were to announce their intentions on Thursday (1400 AEDT), with the prospect of matches being rescheduled still a possibility, although highly disruptive.
The category 5 intensity typhoon hasn’t weakened nor changed its trajectory overnight and is forecast to hit the greater Tokyo region with heavy rain and winds of well over 200 km/h.
The city’s civil defence staff have begun emergency planning and rugby bosses have already stated they will make safety a priority.
The Wallabies, who face Georgia 200 km southwest of Tokyo in Shizuoka on Friday night, are unlikely to be affected.
Michael Cheika’s team are almost certain to finish second in pool D, sending them into a quarter-final against the pool C winners – England or France.
If the latter match isn’t played, England will be the uderdone opponents for next week’s quarter-final in Oita. They’ll have played only three pool games, all comfortable wins over Tonga, USA and a 14-man Argentina.
Group leaders Japan against third-placed Scotland was shaping as the match of the tournament, with both teams still fighting for a quarter-final spot.
A cancellation would send the tournament hosts through as group winners and shut the Scots out completely.
