At times it felt like only a force of nature could stop New Zealand’s run at the Rugby World Cup. And that’s what happened.

The threat of Typhoon Hagibis forced Rugby World Cup organisers in Japan to cancel two pool games scheduled for Saturday, including the Pool B match between the defending champion All Blacks and Italy in Toyota.

That ended New Zealand’s perfect record in the group stage and rampant recent run at the Rugby World Cup.

The three-time champions had won all 31 of their pool games dating back to the first tournament in 1987.

New Zealand had also won 17 straight games at the World Cup, play-offs included, before Thursday’s announcement by organisers.

The last time New Zealand failed to win a World Cup game was in the quarterfinals in 2007, three tournaments ago.

World Rugby said Hagibis, which has the same force as a Category 5 hurricane, “is highly likely to cause considerable disruption in the Tokyo, Yokohama and Toyota City areas throughout Saturday.”

The England-France Pool C game in Yokohama was also cancelled.

There is no provision for a postponement and no chance of being played at another venue. The rules mean the game is called a scoreless draw and both teams get two log points.

The All Blacks will get over it.

After all, they still finish top of Pool B, as expected, even if their win running comes to an end.

New Zealand still has the play-offs and an attempt at a third straight Rugby World Cup title and fourth overall ahead of it.

Coach Steve Hansen had no issues with the game being called off for safety reasons.

“When you get a typhoon to the level we’re getting, then safety is the paramount thing so it’s a no-brainer,” he said.

The cancellation hit Italy harder.

Italy had a sliver of a chance of going through to the quarterfinals if it beat the defending champion for the first time in its history.

Instead, Italy will give 142-cap veteran Sergio Parisse and fellow Test centurion Leonardo Ghiraldini fitting farewells privately after their long service to the team.

Parisse, 34, said he was going to retire after the World Cup and was due to go out against the world’s best team.

At least he got to play at this World Cup.

Hooker Ghiraldini, who is also 34, battled back from injury to make Italy’s squad and was due to see his first action in Japan against New Zealand.

Ghiraldini reportedly shed tears among teammates when news broke that the game against New Zealand had been cancelled.