Tokyo (AFP)
The typhoon threat that weighed on the match France - United States was lifted and the meeting will take place as planned Wednesday in Fukuoka, said Monday the organizers of the Rugby World Cup in Japan.
"The decision was made after consultation with our weather experts and the Japanese Meteorological Agency, which confirms that the Mitag typhoon is decreasing in intensity, and is moving further west of the Japanese coast and as a result will not impact on the match, "the organizers said.
World Rugby warned Sunday teams in France and the United States of a typhoon risk.
"In the context of our many possible solutions in case of unforeseen, if the match could not be played in Fukuoka, another stadium would have been used," said World Rugby.
French coach Jacques Brunel was able to evacuate the subject after the announcement of his team composition. "We have discussed the conditions but without too much delay either: sometimes it can be disturbing to think of a context that can be calamitous and in fact nothing happens", said Brunel taking example on the first match won against Argentina (23-21). "We had prepared for difficult conditions and in fact there was nothing."
In case of no solution and if a match of the first phase can not take place, the International Federation has provided that each team is awarded two points (draw 0-0). A regulation that does not really like Brunel: "I would not say what I think," he said.
The impact of typhoons on the course of the competition is a matter of concern for World Rugby.
Less than two weeks before the start of the World Cup, Typhoon Faxai struck Tokyo and the neighboring city of Chiba, killing two people and causing major air disturbances in Narita, one of Tokyo's two major airports. .
© 2019 AFP