The All Blacks are the latest team potentially sucked into the chaos caused by Super Typhoon Hagibis at the Rugby World Cup, with the world champions set to have their final pool game cancelled.

The category 5 storm that is forecast to strike Japan on Saturday is causing major headaches for organisers, who look increasingly likely to announce abandonments for the first time in the tournament’s 32-year history.

England’s pool decider against France in Yokohama on Saturday has reportedly been cancelled while there is speculation the same outcome awaits the key clash between Japan and Scotland at the same venue a day later.

Kiwi media are reporting the New Zealand-Italy game on Saturday will also be scratched.

Their venue of Toyota City sits on the fringe of the typhoon’s forecast path towards Yokohama and Tokyo but organisers have said they will prioritise safety in the face of ferocious winds and heavy rain.

All Blacks management have delayed their team naming until after World Rugby makes an announcement on its plans to cope with the storm, scheduled for 1400 (AEDT).

The typhoon, labelled “violent” by the Japan Meteorological Agency is set to have a big impact on the World Cup’s quarter-final permutations, with cancelled games registered as scoreless draws.

England would progress as pool C winners into the quarter-finals, where they almost certainly would face Australia. Pool runners-up France would then face Wales.

Pool A 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 hosts through as group winners and shut the Scots out completely.

LIkewise, Italy could have snared an unlikely quarter-final spot and ousted the All Blacks if they’d won with a bonus point but they could be denied that chance.

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 underdone 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.