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 struck Japan, killing 11 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: United States-Tonga in Hanazono, in the Osaka region (south), and Wales-Uruguay in Kumamoto, on Kyushu, Japan's southernmost island.

- 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, 19:45 local (12:45 French, 10:45 GMT) in the suburbs of Tokyo, had sparked a controversy.

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.

The three games played on Sunday will be preceded by "a moment of silence in memory of the victims of Typhoon Hagibis," World Rugby said.

The typhoon, which crossed eastern and central Japan on Saturday, killed at least 11 people, according to Japanese officials.

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

© 2019 AFP