Yokohama (Japan) (AFP)

The World Cup organizers have decided to keep Japan-Scotland, decisive for qualifying for the quarter-finals on Sunday in Yokohama, the day after the typhoon Hagibis that hit Japan, killing 14 people and causing enormous damage.

"World Rugby and Japan-2019 have indicated that the match will take place as planned," the organizers said in a statement.

The holding of this match, in the center of a controversy, was announced at 11:00 local, a little more than eight hours before the kick-off of the match, scheduled at 19:45 (12:45 French, 10:45 GMT) as a result of an inspection mission of the stadium and its lawn.

"The decision was made after a thorough inspection of the facilities and associated structure on Sunday morning in partnership with the host city," World Rugby said, adding that transport "will gradually return to normal during the day."

Three World Cup matches, New Zealand-Italy (at Toyota) and England-France (at Yokohama) on Saturday, as well as Namibia-Canada (at Kamaishi) on Sunday, were canceled due to the Typhoon Hagibis that swept the Central and Eastern Japan on Saturday.

Two other matches were held on Sunday: in the first, the United States beat Tonga (31-12) in Hanazono, in the region of Osaka (south) in the early afternoon. Wales defeated Uruguay (35-13) in Kumamoto on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island, largely spared by the Hagibis pass.

- Moment of silence -

For the match in Yokohama, World Rugby issued special recommendations.

Supporters wishing to attend the match in the stadium, which can accommodate 72,000 spectators, are invited to "inquire before the start and must try to arrive early as it may take longer than usual to enter the venue. 'pregnant".

The services offered to the spectators will be reduced, in terms of restoration and sale of by-products.

The uncertainty surrounding the holding of Japan-Scotland in Yokohama, a suburb of Tokyo, was controversial.

The coaching and the Scottish Federation had put pressure on World Rugby to play the game absolutely, because a cancellation, synonymous with a draw (0-0), would have caused the elimination of the XV thistle.

The chief executive of the federation (SRU) said in particular: "We will not let Scotland be the collateral victim of a hasty decision", leaving the threat of recourse to the courts in the event of a death. cancellation of the match.

In return, the Scots had suffered serious criticism from World Rugby but also from their opponents of the Japanese day.

This match, which is a "true-false" round of 16, could allow Japan, in case of victory or defeat with a bonus point, to participate in the 8th finals for the first time in its history.

As in the first two games of the day, Japan-Scotland will be preceded by "a moment of silence in memory of the victims of typhoon Hagibis," according to the International Federation.

"On behalf of World Rugby, our thoughts and compassion accompany everyone in Japan in these difficult times," said Bill Beaumont, its president, quoted in a statement from the institution. "Japan has been the warmest, the best host for the World Cup and we stand by it in solidarity" ".

The typhoon, which crossed eastern and central Japan on Saturday, claimed at least 14 lives, according to Japanese officials. Nine people were reported missing in the middle of the afternoon.

Loaded with rains of an intensity described as "unprecedented", Hagibis caused deadly floods and landslides.

© 2019 AFP