Tokyo (AFP)
The New Zealand team denied any special treatment at the Rugby World Cup on Friday after being questioned by the Italians unhappy with the cancellation of their match due to the typhoon.
Second row Sam Whitelock said that the All Blacks wanted to play the match against Italy, scheduled for Saturday at Toyota and canceled by the organizers because of the Typhoon Hagibis that will hit Japan. "It's not us who make the decisions, it comes from above, it's up to these people to ask."
Whitelock responded to Italian captain Sergio Parisse who said Thursday: "If New Zealand had (needed) four or five points against us, (the match) would not have been canceled". Italy coach Conor O'Shea said the World Cup ended "horribly" for his team.
The cancellation of the match New Zealand - Italy resulted in the qualification of the All Blacks for the quarter-finals and confirmed the elimination of Italy who would have needed to beat the double world champions with a bonus point for hope to reach the quarter-finals.
Sam Whitelock, 30, 115 All Blacks caps, is also wearing the Crusaders, the Christchurch-based Super Rugby team.
"I had a few cancellations of Super Rugby matches during the earthquake (2011) and the shooting (March 2019), and for these matches we understand why, rugby is very little," he said. He underlines.
"Sometimes it's good not to play, there would be nothing worse than playing and there are injuries, that's the truth." We listened to what we were told more top (World Rugby) We play with the cards we want to give us ".
© 2019 AFP